AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Public Works, the Austin Fire Department (AFD) and Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) broke ground Wednesday on a new joint fire/EMS station.
The Goodnight Ranch station will be home to both AFD and ATCEMS. It is the fourth of five high-priority stations being built to keep up with Austin's population growth.
“Our goal is to respond to those we serve in eight minutes or less, 90 percent of the time,” Fire Chief Joel G. Baker said. “This latest addition to the public safety fabric of this community is an exciting development as we get closer towards the goal of seeing five new stations completed in six years. We are grateful to the Mayor, Council, City Manager, and all those who have worked so hard in making this station, as well as the others, a reality, and we look forward to being back at this site next year for the grand opening!”
The Austin City Council passed a resolution to develop and build five new Fire/EMS stations in six years back in May 2018. The new buildings aim to serve areas with low response times and/or high population growth.
PHOTOS: Goodnight Ranch joint Austin Fire/ATCEMS station
“One of the most important roles I play as a local leader is ensuring our communities have access to quick and reliable public safety. This new joint Fire/EMS Station will provide faster response times while addressing the City’s rapid growth, especially in our Southeast Austin communities," Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes (District 2) said. "I’m proud to say that once completed, this station will be the second high-priority station built in Southeast Austin in the last three years."
The Goodnight Ranch station, which will be located off of Stockman Drive, will feature the following:
- 15,200 square feet of training stairs
- Four pull-through apparatus bays
- Eleven Fire dorms and four EMS dorms
- Common Day room, kitchen and gym
- Parking spaces for 21 station personnel
- Exterior space for station personnel
"This has been a true collaborative effort to make sure these high-priority stations stay on track,” said Richard Mendoza, interim director of Austin Transportation. "Partners include the Austin Fire Department, Austin-Travis County EMS, Austin Energy, Austin Water, as well as the City’s offices of Budget and Finance, Capital Contracting, Real Estate Services, and more. He continued, “That speaks to the level of commitment and focus the team has to deliver these important community assets, and I couldn’t be more grateful for everyone’s hard work."
So far, two joint stations have already opened. The Del Valle/Moore's Crossing station opened in July 2020, and the Travis Country/Sunset Valley opened in July 2021. The station located at Loop 360/Davenport is expected to open this spring. The last station in the plan will be located in the Canyon Creek/620 area and is currently undergoing the design phase.
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