The SR 99 International District Enhancement Project is featured in the US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration's Public Roads 2012 May/June Report. 

In 2004 the City had an enhancement study (3.2MB ) and accompanying market analysis (3.9MB ) completed by the firms Makers and Berk & Associates to assess design and economic issues relevant to business growth along the Highway 99 corridor in Edmonds. A key recommendation from these reports was to build on the burgeoning cluster of international businesses, largely anchored by the Ranch 99 supermarket, BooHan plaza, and other specialty plazas. The International District area is located approximately between 238th and 224th on SR99.

In 2005 the City Economic Development Director worked with Engineering and Cultural Services to apply for a federal Transportation Enhancements grant. $316,000 was awarded in 2006 and in mid 2006 the Cultural Services Manager began implementation of the grant project. The goal is to help strengthen the International District identity through improving visual identity/aesthetics and pedestrian comfort with new gateway elements including new artist made pedestrian level lighting, new district identification signage on custom light poles, resurfacing of the island at 76th and the addition of a solar lit sculptural piece on the island as part of the gateway. Additional funding of $57,000 was awarded in 2008 and the project was expanded in 2011 with an additional grant of $289,000 secured by the City, for a total construction budget of $662,000 in Federal funds.

The artist was selected through a competitive process facilitated by Cultural Services and the Edmonds Arts Commission. Seattle artist Pam Beyette was selected to design and fabricate pedestrian lighting arms and a stand alone sculptural piece. The graphic district identification signage was designed by FORMA.