Federal Way mayor says city is 'on the rise,' highlights light rail, public safety and downtown redevelopment

Mayor Jim Ferrell delivered the State of the City address at the Federal Way Performing Arts and Events Center, telling residents that Federal Way is "on the rise" as the city prepares for light rail, the 2026 World Cup and continued downtown redevelopment.

Ferrell said the city is financially stable, the performing arts and events center is nearly paid off with about $4,900,000 remaining on its debt, and that a pair of major infrastructure and development projects — a $50 million joint-use public works facility and negotiations around redevelopment of the Commons Mall and the Town Center property — position Federal Way for growth.

The significance of the upcoming light rail line and the 2026 World Cup framed much of Ferrell's remarks. He said light rail, scheduled to arrive in early 2026, will "completely reshape the present and future of Federal Way" and that the World Cup summer matches will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region. Ferrell tied planning for those events to…