The Federal Way City Council voted unanimously on March 18 to adopt the Twin Lakes/Westway neighborhood greenway plan, setting a clear path to safer streets for pedestrians and people on bikes.

One month after adopting the plan, the city is taking steps to implement the plan by designating $15,000 from the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program to install signs and road markings along the entire route.

Signage and road markings will lay the groundwork for the neighborhood greenway, which connects several neighborhoods to schools, parks and commercial centers in the Twin Lakes area.

The first phase of work, to be completed this year, marks the beginning of a series of potential enhancements along the 4.5-mile route identified by community members through an input process led by Forterra and a steering team of local walkers, bikers and neighborhood leaders.

The neighborhood greenway plan provides recommendations for near-term and long-term projects that will create an environment for people of all ages and abilities to safely walk or ride a bike.

In early 2013, Forterra hosted a Bike-to-Work Day commute station that spawned the idea of a neighborhood greenway in Federal Way and engaged several local walkers and bikers to help lead the project and engage the broader community at events through the summer. Forterra compiled the input into a plan with city Public Works engineers.

To celebrate the adoption of the plan and the first steps toward implementation, Forterra is hosting another Bike-to-Work Day event from 3-6:30 p.m. on May 16.

Walk or ride your bike, and bring friends and family to the north end of the BPA Trail at Celebration Park. Pizza and other snacks will be provided. For information, contact Nick Cilluffo at 206-905-6910 or ncilluffo@forterra.org.