Project News
- The City Center Access project team is moving forward with the environmental review process. Read below to learn more about the findings.
- In November 2022, the City Center Access project Access Revision Report received FHWA acceptance for Safety, Operational, and Engineering Acceptability.
- In mid-March, the City Center Access project (Phase 1) was listed in the State Transportation Improvement Program.
- The project team presented preliminary findings from the environmental analysis to the City Council on March 21. Click here to watch a recording of the presentation.
Project Overview
Our city is growing and the City of Federal Way wants to help people get where they need to go, whether they are walking, rolling, biking, riding transit, or driving. The City Center Access project will provide more and better connections to central gathering places and services for the community by:
- Strengthening traffic operations with an eye on long-term growth in employment and housing.
- Increasing safety and efficiency for people traveling by car, transit, bike or walking.
- Reducing dependency on cars by improving transit, pedestrian, and bicycle connections.
The City of Federal Way is refining preliminary design and completing environmental reviews that consider impacts on the natural and built environment. Once the process is complete, the City will move forward with obtaining permits and securing funding to finalize design and build the project.
View our project fact sheet here.
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Consulte la hoja informativa del proyecto City Center Access aquí
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Project Schedule
About the City Center Access Project
Sustained growth has strained I-5 and local streets in Federal Way’s City Center. As more people move to the area, traffic will continue to increase. Traffic delays during the afternoon are approaching unacceptable levels, even with the expansion of mass transit.
The City of Federal Way is working to ease traffic congestion in the area around S 320th Street between SR 99/Pacific Highway and Military Road S. The City initiated work to determine which transportation system changes were needed to preserve future mobility in the City Center in 2004. The project was put on hold in 2009 after the City Council considered community input and selected the No Build Alternative. The City re-initiated the Federal Way City Center Access Project in fall 2017 to address a growing problem with traffic delays, safety and mobility for drivers, transit, pedestrians and bicyclists. Early work involved evaluating a suite of alternatives to identify solutions that would meet the needs of the community. In November 2019, the Federal Way City Council unanimously approved a set of improvements, known as the City Center Access preferred alternative.
Following the approval of the preferred alternative, the City and a project support team have been busy refining the preferred alternative and preparing environmental documentation for the project. The City has been working to develop solutions with community members and partners at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC), Sound Transit, Pierce Transit, South King Fire and Rescue, King County, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, and the Snoqualmie Tribe.
This project supports the visions and goals outlined in the City of Federal Way’s Comprehensive Plan. The project is also included in the City of Federal Way’s 6-Year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP).
What is the solution?
Based on analysis from April 2018 to early 2019, the project team concluded that modifications to I-5 access, in addition to local elements, are essential to address the needs established by the City Center Access Study.
Now, the City is working to refine the preferred alternative, which includes the following road improvements:
- Building an I-5 overcrossing at S 324th Street from 23rd Avenue S to Weyerhaeuser Way S for people to walk, bike, or drive.
- Making road improvements on S 324th Street from SR 99 to 23rd Avenue S.
- Modifying the S 320th Street interchange.
- Adding access to I-5 at S 324th Street with roundabouts at freeway on- and off-ramps.
- Building two new roundabouts on S 324th St, at 23rd Avenue S and Weyerhaeuser Way S.
- Providing high occupancy vehicle lanes on S 320th Street from SR 99 to Military Road S.
- Adding shared-used paths and regional trail connections, including a potential connection to the BPA Trail.
Environmental Analysis
As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), Federal Way is evaluating how the project may affect people and the surrounding environment. The environmental analysis includes the consideration of wetlands and streams, fish and wildlife, noise, cultural resources, hazardous materials, and impacts to homes and businesses.
Learn about our findings by clicking through the reports below:
Community engagement
The City began working with the community on the City Center Access Study in late 2017 to learn about the issues currently facing the City Center, including specific problem areas and potential solutions. After holding stakeholder interviews, community briefings, tabling events, a public in-person open house and an online open house, the City summarized community feedback about the proposed solutions in the 2019 outreach report. In November 2019, the City Council voted unanimously to move forward with planning a modified I-5 interchange with an overcrossing at S 324th Street and extended I-5 access ramps serving S 320th and S 324th streets.
During Preliminary Design and Environmental Analysis, the project team held a series of virtual and in-person community events including a design workshop, an online open house, and briefings for partner agencies, project neighbors, businesses and organizations serving environmental justice population. The project team incorporated community feedback, which is summarized in the 2022 outreach report, into preliminary design and environmental documentation.
We will continue to offer opportunities for community members to share their feedback and stay up to date as the project moves forward.
Talk to Us!
We look forward to collaborating with you to make Federal Way a great place to live and work for generations to come. Please contact us with questions or comments:
City Center Access Project Manager: Rick Perez, P.E., City Traffic Engineer; Rick.Perez@cityoffederalway.com; 253-835-2740