Federal Way is planning to change the name of South 320th Street in order to honor U.S. military veterans.

The new name, Veterans Way, would take effect May 27, 2019, to coincide with Memorial Day. Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell made the announcement last Saturday during the annual flag celebration sponsored by Soroptimist International of Federal Way and King County Councilman Pete von Reichbauer.

Veterans Way would run the entire length of South 320th Street between Military and Hoyt roads.

“Federal Way is not a city of numbered streets,” Ferrell said in a speech at the June 16 event. “With this proposed naming of Veterans Way, we continue the process of recognizing those that helped preserve the freedom of our city, state and nation. We hope this will be a lasting symbol for generations to come in our community.”

The estimated cost for installing new street signs, including signage on Interstate 5, will be about $75,000 total, according to city spokesman Tyler Hemstreet.

The proposal still needs to be approved by the Federal Way City Council. The signs would be funded through real estate excise tax money, rather than the general fund, Hemstreet said.

The potential name change has generated mixed reactions on social media. While some readers on the Mirror’s Facebook page expressed support for the idea, others decried the proposal as a waste of money when considering issues such as homelessness and traffic. Some commenters noted the potential cost to businesses and residents who may need to change logos, signage, stationery and more.

“The mayor is open to considering some process where businesses and residents could be reimbursed for their costs associated with the change,” Hemstreet said in an email.