Everyone should feel safe and comfortable on Federal Way’s streets—whether they are on foot, using a mobility device, riding a bike, on a bus, or driving a car. Our Traffic Safety Action Plan invites you to join us in making that happen.

Why safe streets matter

From 2020 to 2024, more than 3,250 fatal crashes occurred in Washington. Here in Federal Way, there were 51 fatal crashes.

To put it in perspective: those are people whose futures are cut short, with countless more people forever changed by grief and loss. Crash victims’ loved ones may struggle with trauma, grief, or economic hardship. Survivors might have to learn to live with a temporary or permanent disability. Witnesses to a crash can be deeply impacted, and the guilt of being responsible for a crash can linger for a lifetime.

To reduce and ultimately eliminate tragedies like these, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) created a new National Roadway Safety Strategy, setting a goal of zero roadway deaths. In support of that strategy, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) program to fund roadway safety projects across the country.

What are we doing in Federal Way?

Federal Way is launching our Safe Streets for All efforts in the Fall of 2025, and by Summer 2026, we aim to adopt a Traffic Safety Action Plan. This plan is driven by the Safe System Approach, which asserts that while crashes may be inevitable, death and serious injuries resulting from those crashes are preventable. This approach emphasizes:

• Designing with human error in mind: Street design should anticipate common mistakes and prevent these from resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
• Designing for safe speeds: Street design and management should naturally encourage safe driving speeds that reduce both the likelihood and severity of crashes.

Roundabouts, protected left turn signals, and separated bike lanes are examples of designing with the Safe System Approach in mind. For example, roundabouts help reduce severe crashes by slowing driver speeds and reducing conflict points. Protected left turn signals separate drivers turning left from pedestrians crossing the street – and keep left turning drivers safe from oncoming traffic. Separated bike lanes create a dedicated space for bicyclists, so that people walking, biking, and driving all have their own space on the street.