Interstate 5, State Route 99, I-5 to SR-99 or SR-99 to I-5.

These are the four route options the Sound Transit board will consider as they decide where the Federal Way Link Extension will be constructed.

But during the last weeks of the public comment period, which ended May 26, public entities and community groups took a position on just that — a future route for the light rail they believed would be best for the community in Federal Way.

On May 12, the Federal Way Public Schools board of directors and Interim Superintendent Sally McLean sent a letter expressing their preference for the I-5 alignment, a station at Highline College and a Federal Way station to be at the South 320th Park and Ride.

“We just think that [the I-5 alignment], from a school district perspective, is the least disruptive to the school properties,” McLean said in a phone interview.

In a letter to the Sound Transit board, school district officials outlined the impacts each route alignment would create with nearly every option impacting school property.

Both the I-5 and SR-99 to I-5 alternatives will impact Mark Twain Elementary, as their campus is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of South 272nd Street and I-5. The board’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement outlines routes that would extend from the Star Lake Park and Ride by way of an underground trench and lid. That portion would go under South 272nd Street and continue under a portion of Mark Twain Elementary’s play field and a portion of the school bus area.

While the six-to-12-month-long construction impacts to .9 acres of Mark Twain Elementary are significant, the play field and bus loop would eventually be restored for school district use.

However, the district notes there is a potential for redevelopment at Mark Twain Elementary in the next 10 to 15 years.

“If Mark Twain Elementary School undergoes redevelopment at the same time that Federal Way Link Extension construction is taking place, coordination of these efforts will be even more critical — and potentially complicated,” the letter states.

District officials also expressed concern over future limitations the trench and lid could create.

“If placement of the trench and lid across the Mark Twain Elementary site will constrain the district’s future use of that side, redevelopment in order to meet future needs will likely be significantly more expensive, if not feasible,” the letter continues.

But is an SR-99 alignment better?

An SR-99 alignment could affect Federal Way High School, which is currently undergoing a $106 million reconstruction.

The new building will be close to light rail if it’s positioned along SR-99 and district officials are concerned about vibration, noise and visual distractions it could bring for students. Although the Draft Environmental Impact Statement states the vibration effects on the Federal Way High School Performing Arts Center could be mitigated, such as the implementation of sound walls, officials said there’s no mention of mitigation for other Federal Way High School operations.

Additionally, the elevated light rail along SR-99 would impact the greatest number of residents, according to the impact statement.

“The district is concerned that construction and operation of the Federal Way Link Extension in the SR-99 median immediately in front of the new Federal Way High School — with some classrooms on the third floor of the new building — will serve as a visual distraction to students and staff,” the letter reads. “… The district is also concerned that the aesthetic benefits of the design of the new Federal Way High School may be reduced by virtue of this Federal Way Link Extension alignment.”

Truman High School and its associated partners, the Boys and Girls Club and Head Start, could also be impacted based on the location of the station in Federal Way.

McLean said the board also wanted to ensure Federal Way Public Schools Running Start students, about 500, could benefit from the Federal Way Link Extension alignment.

“We have a significant number of students who attend Highline College through Running Start and having a light rail station for those students removes the transportation barrier,” McLean said, adding that the district doesn’t currently provide transportation for Running Start students.

The 30th District Democrats also passed a resolution taking a stance on their preferred route alignment in recent weeks.

Chair Tim Burns said their support of an SR-99 alignment stems from the need to create walkable neighborhoods.

“Research has shown link light rail alignment along SR-99 would be able to match or nearly match the fastest option with 26,000 to 26,500 riders and allow for double or even quadruple the potential for transit-oriented development,” Burns said. “We endorse SR-99 from SeaTac to Federal Way as a forward thinking means to develop a dense, walkable urban corridor for Federal Way.”

The 30th District Democrats did not take a stance on a station location at Highline College but the SR-99 route alternative ensures a station will be located nearby.

And while the Greater Federal Way Chamber of Commerce outlined guiding principles they hoped the Sound Transit board would consider when making their decision on the route, they did not take an official stance on which alternative was best.

“After 15 months of in-depth research, meetings with Sound Transit and studying all the options presented, the Greater Federal Way Chamber of Commerce has issued a Statement of Principles in the hope that Sound Transit will give this document serious consideration in their decision process,” said Chamber chair Lori Santamaria. “We are the voice of business and we will do all we can to support and drive business development in our region.”

Santamaria said Chamber board members are looking 30-50 years in the future, as that is when the “full impact of the decision will be felt in the business community.”

The Chamber board focused on economic development, regional workforce connection, cost of strategic growth and long range vision.

“As we look to diversify our business base, the Chamber does not see light rail as a transportation mechanism to move people from Federal Way to other cities,” the Statement of Principles states. “We see it as a way to bring to Federal Way those future employers and employees who may live in Burien, SeaTac, Seattle, Tacoma or even Olympia. In its long-range vision, the Chamber sees the future of Federal Way as a hub, a destination for business and commerce, which is linked east to west with bus lines and north to south with light rail.”

Chamber members pointed to transit-oriented development as potential for economic growth. They also cited results from the study “Transit and Regional Economic Development” from the Center for Transit Development, which affirmed a quarter of the jobs in 34 transit regions studied were near transit and “knowledge-based” jobs are more likely to locate in central business districts and higher density regional employment areas, among other points.

In terms of regional connectivity, Chamber board members state, “Federal Way encompasses two working ports whose related economic activity is affiliated with $138 billion in total economic activity in the state, which is one-third of Washington’s gross domestic product.”

According to “The Economic Impact of Marine Cargo at the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle,” surface transportation is one of the four economic impactor sectors for the ports, the document states.

Despite that one route is more expensive than the other, Chamber board members pointed out investment in light rail is a shared investment for the future.

“No matter which route or station location is chosen, businesses will be inconvenienced — directly and indirectly,” the document continues. “The Chamber recognizes that Sound Transit will provide a full-suite relocation of services to mitigate disruption of affected businesses.”

The document states developing the economic potential of the Federal Way business hub is the “best, long-range interest of the Chamber of Commerce.”

For more information on the Federal Way Link Extension, visit federalwaylink.org.