Faced with pleas to protect a treasured park, the Federal Way City Council has put off deciding whether to move forward with a five-lane overpass project.
By a 7-0 vote, the council tabled Tuesday night whether to recommend a new Interstate 5 overpass and ramps at South 312th Street and widening that road from two to five lanes through Steel Lake Park.
With many questions about the $280 million project, the elected leaders put off making a decision until their next meeting March 17.
Deanna Riddle told council members they will affect hundreds of people if they allow the overpass road project to increase access to the city center by adding traffic through the park.
“We are a community,” said Riddle, who lives near the park. “You are ruining that community if you put a freeway ramp through it.”
At least a dozen people spoke against the project, which is the preferred option of two study groups and city staff who looked into improving traffic in and out of downtown Federal Way.
Julie Vance pleaded with the council to pick another alternative besides widening South 312th Street through the park. Ball fields and a skate park are on one side of South 312th, while the lake and main park are on the other side.
“Don’t let this ruin it,” Vance said. “It’s the most beautiful thing we have in our city.”
The council’s recommendation could be one of the most significant and costly decisions in Federal Way’s 19-year history.
But building a new overpass is at least 15 years away, and no funding has been approved. The city doesn’t have the money and would need help from the Federal Highway Administration and the state. The federal agency must give final approval; it already has rated the South 312th option as best.
Another alternative is building an overpass and ramps at South 324th Street. That also would include an overpass and street widening at South 312th, but without ramps.
The overall project includes widening the existing South 320th Street overpass and improving its onramps and offramps. Traffic on South 320th to and from the city center is notoriously congested.
Construction on one of those 320th ramp improvements could start in 2011 if the city’s initial request for $3.2 million in federal funding is granted.
City traffic engineer Maryanne Zukowski said the Steel Lake area will have more traffic congestion over time if South 312th isn’t widened.
“What our traffic numbers show is they’re going to have more problems in their neighborhoods if we don’t build this because we don’t have enough capacity on those roads,” Zukowski said in an interview.
Council member Jeanne Burbidge said deciding whether to go ahead with the project is one of the most challenging decisions the council will face.
Her colleague Jim Ferrell said the issue is difficult, and he’s not in favor of a five-lane road in front of a park.
Council member Linda Kochmar also said she’s not convinced.
But council member Eric Faison said the decision comes down to what best serves “our entire community,” recognizing the best option will impact residents surrounding Steel Lake Park.
“Frankly, we need to do something,” Faison said.
Steve Maynard: 253-597-8647
