The Dickerson Radio Tower project will support the construction of a 350-foot communications tower near the existing equipment shelter. This new tower will replace the GenOn smokestack as the mounting structure, support the existing antennas and microwave dishes and ensure continued optimal coverage for public safety communications.

In FY25, installation work started and is anticipated to be completed in calendar year 2026.

The Public Safety Radio System (PSRS) in Montgomery County includes 22 antenna sites strategically placed to ensure optimal coverage for public safety personnel. One of these sites is located in Dickerson, historically using the GenOn power plant smokestack on Martinsburg Road for mounting antennas and microwave dishes. The County has utilized the 700-foot-tall GenOn smokestack for over 20 years due to its ideal elevation and location. The PSRS equipment includes four antennas and two microwave dishes, which are mounted at the 420-foot level of the smokestack.
A new communications equipment shelter was installed at the site during the recent activation of the P25 radio system. The GenOn property is in the process of shutting down, which was not known during the planning and construction phase (2016-2018). This closure necessitates relocation of the PSRS equipment to maintain coverage in the Dickerson area and the Potomac River corridor.

In FY22, $100,000 in Current Revenue: General and $1,900,000 in G.O. Bonds was transferred from the Public Safety System Modernization (PSSM) project to this project. FY25 supplemental appropriation in G.O. Bonds for $1,800,000.

Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS) and Department of General Services