Project News

  • Final design for the first phase of City Center Access improvements is now underway! In the upcoming months, you may see our team out in the field conducting surveys to better understand above and below ground conditions in the city center to support design. Our team will share more information about what you can expect as this work approaches.
  • The project team is coordinating closely with partners like WSDOT and Sound Transit as work progresses.
  • In January 2024, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved the State Transportation Improvement Program, which included funding for final design and right of way acquisition for Phase 1 of the City Center Access Project. Read on to learn what this work will include.
  • In September 2025, the project received approval from the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This federal review confirmed that potential effects on the environment and community were carefully evaluated. The approval reflects the City’s commitment to protecting Federal Way’s natural habitat, cultural resources and neighborhoods while advancing necessary mobility improvements and coordinating closely with Sound Transit as their work in the area advances. 

Project Overview

Federal Way is growing, and it’s a City priority to improve access to community services and destinations. Whether it’s walking, biking, riding transit, or driving, the City Center Access project will improve connections by:

  • Strengthening traffic operations.
  • Increasing safety and efficiency of travel.
  • Improving transit, pedestrian, and bicycle connections.

Federal Way Downtown Light Rail Station and Surrounding Roads and Buildings

 

What is the Solution?

The City is planning the following changes to improve access to the City Center:

  • I-5 overcrossing at S 324th Street from 23rd Avenue S to Weyerhaeuser Way S for people to walk, bike, or drive.
  • Road improvements on S 324th Street from SR 99 to 23rd Avenue S.
  • Modifications to the S 320th Street interchange.
  • Access to I-5 at S 324th Street with roundabouts at freeway on- and off-ramps.
  • Two new roundabouts on S 324th St, at 23rd Avenue S and Weyerhaeuser Way S.
  • High occupancy vehicle lanes on S 320th Street from SR 99 to Military Road S.
  • Shared-use paths and regional trail connections, including a potential extension of the BPA Trail.

Map of City Center Access Project Proposed Improvements

 

Project Schedule

Project timeline graphic

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 City put the project 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. In January 2024, the City received funding from the State Transportation Improvement Program to finalize design of the Phase 1 improvements. In September 2025, the project received approval from FHWA under NEPA. Now that environmental documentation is complete, the City will move forward with obtaining permits and acquiring right of way for the Phase 1 improvements. The City will apply for more funding to construct the Phase 1 improvements and to advance the remaining phases of 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 Puyallup Tribe of Indians. 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 (6-Year TIP) that is available upon request.

The City continues to work in partnership with Sound Transit to align project schedules and design elements. A portion of the City Center Access project will be incorporated into Sound Transit’s early work for the Operations and Maintenance Facility South project. The S 324th Street and 23rd Avenue S roundabout may begin construction as soon as summer of 2027.  

 

Traffic at the intersection of S320th and SR99

 

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. The outreach reports are available upon request.

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

Interested in keeping up with the project? Sign up for project updates via email here.

 

Title VI Statement to Public: The City of Federal Way ensures full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by prohibiting discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin or sex in the provision of benefits and services resulting from its federally assisted programs and activities.

Alternative formats: Persons with disabilities may request this information be prepared and supplied in alternate formats by calling the project hotline at 253.835.2714. Persons who are deaf and hard of hearing may call Washington State Telecommunications Relay service  by dialing 7-1-1 and asking to be connected to 253.835.2714.

Alternative languages: The City Center Access Project Fact Sheet is available in the following languages: Korean, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Somali, Swahili, Tagalog, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.