The Federal Way City Council recently voted 6-1 on a resolution supporting the proposed Interstate 5 alignment for the Federal Way Link Extension.

They also unanimously voted on a letter of recommendation to be sent to Sound Transit on that alignment before the public comment period closes on May 26.

Sound Transit published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement listing several alignment options for light rail as it extends south.

These alternatives include constructing light rail along State Route 99 (Pacific Highway South) or Interstate 5. There are also versions that include crossovers of the two.

While this route is unfunded at this time, Sound Transit officials are planning the next phase of the currently-funded section from Angle Lake to the Kent/Des Moines area. This includes light rail and a station at South 272nd Street — light rail they have voter approval for but no current funds.

But picking a route alternative that will go from South 272nd Street to downtown Federal Way has been somewhat divisive.

Highline College President Jack Bermingham and student body vice president Ruth Krizan spoke at the council meeting, urging the council to support a station and alignment that benefits the college, which is located in Des Moines but serves about 3,300 students from Federal Way.

“Highline is not a stop, it’s a destination,” Bermingham said, noting the Highline College board hasn’t taken a stance on an alignment but has focused on the location of a future station near Highline.

Bermingham said Highline College serves a disproportionate number of students who come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and to not consider them when making a recommendation would be a critical error.

Krizan presented the student body’s own resolution, which was written in a letter by the president of the associated student body of Highline College, Laura Yanez.

“We are resolved in endorsing a new station called Highline College Station, in the tradition of naming stations by local landmarks and acknowledging the importance of our college as the preeminent destination and landmark in this region,” the resolution states. “We have been here for 50 years and will likely be here for the next 50 years and beyond.”

The student body supports a station on Pacific Highway South instead of 30th Avenue.

“Foot traffic distance times to campus and safety raise concerns for students, faculty and staff as they hike from the station to the campus,” the resolution continues. “Further, we request that the station be on the west side of Highway 99 next to the college.”

Federal Way resident Richard Champion encouraged the council to think about a different alignment along SR-99 because of the potential for transit-oriented development. He said potential development is double, maybe even “quadruple” the size if the alignment is immersed in a city instead of near a freeway.

“What we’re trying to talk about is the future of Federal Way,” Champion said. “Federal Way is the 10th-largest city in this state. This won’t be complete probably until the 2030s. Funding doesn’t exist for it. None of you will probably be on the City Council by then if I’m being honest. So it’s not going to be affecting your position, not going to be affecting businesses because businesses come and go.”

While the council ultimately voted for an I-5 alignment because it affects the lowest number of parcels, has the least adverse impacts on the city and its businesses in the retail core, it preserves the $100 million investment already made to SR-99, and would cost $400 million less than an SR-99 route, they modified Resolution No. 15-686 so that it would emphasize the city’s support of Highline College.

Section 3 of the resolution reads: Based upon a detailed analysis of the alternatives, review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and public outreach, the City Council hereby expresses its preference for a station location that is as close as possible to Highline College, but still facilitates an I-5 alignment, the exact location and details of which should be negotiated with the city’s affected regional partners, including Des Moines, Kent and Highline College.

The city’s supplemental letter of support to King County Executive Dow Constantine, the chair of the Sound Transit board, included encouragement for placing a station so that there’s pedestrian access to Highline College “by an elevated pedestrian/bicycle bridge from east of SR-99 to the college.”

The letter was drafted and is expected to be signed by Des Moines Mayor Dave Kaplan, SeaTac Mayor Mia Gregerson, Kent Mayor Suzette Cook and Kent Council President Dana Ralph, along with Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell and Deputy Mayor Jeanne Burbidge.