Federal Way Transit Center — Local services in Federal Way

March 2025: Who designed this? Obviously not anyone with commuter experience or who did a survey from riders.

The new transit center for busses now has NO roof covering from the elements, like the old transit center had and the new light rail has, for those that wait on the long lines for commuter busses like 177, 577, 578, etc. There is a small shelter that houses 8 people but the commuter busses have riders that queue in a line of 20-60+, this does not work.

The busses that run in the same commuting direction, like the 177 and 577 North to Seattle, are no longer next to one another. So if you can take either bus, you now have to get on one line watch for the other that is across the bus path and 100 yards+ away and cross bus traffic and make a run to get the other bus. NOT very well thought out for commuters.

Good news, got rid of the crapping birds from the old transit center. And please don’t say that you can’t build a roof without bird nesting issues. You can. You just need an architect who can plan for it.

Please fix this these issues so we don’t have to live with them for...

While the buses are on time whenever I take the 500 or unless there's traffic backing up (note the 3 stars because I'm giving the bus drivers or other transit employees some slack) but almost half of the time I'm there I see a homeless person(s). I don't even come up here or unless I need to head to either Puyallup, around the area, Fife, Auburn, or Kent, which is maybe once or twice a month. I wish this is fixed, but I know there's nothing that can be done about it.

Update: having to down a star because things have been a lot worse since I was here last. The lawlessness is evident and there's not enough security or officers to prevent this. While I'm aware there's nothing that can be done because of the officers leaving, but now I'm extremely uncomfortable with taking the bus here to go to work or going home. When was the last time King County, or the state, checked this place? I'm taking my pepper spray...

Security is good. The Porta potties are God awful. I am through here several times in a week and they are seldom if ever, clean. Due to a medical condition I am forced to use them. I reckoned carrying your own tissue and disinfecting wipes (I just put a few in a zip lock baggie). Do NOT fully sit on the thing (this should go without saying....) . Or just walk 2 blocks to Target...right across the street. Nice to have options. Federal Way should be ashamed that there are no kept up bathrooms, it is a new facility. They want people to use mass transit they need to show some basic human respect. Put in decent rest areas and hire someone to keep them clean. Rant over...