anchor Description
This project provides for a new five bay Fire and Rescue Station in the Rockville/White Flint area and the purchase of associated apparatus. The new facility will be located on an acquired site at the south-east quadrant of Route 355 and Randolph Road. The northern border of the site has frontage along Randolph Road and the eastern border fronts Chapman Avenue. The new station will be constructed in accordance with the general square footage specifications of the prototype program of requirements (POR) for a Class I Fire Station, with adjustments made to meet these specific site conditions and additional uses. This Fire Station will include apparatus bays, dormitory and support space, personnel living quarters, administrative offices, and meeting/training rooms. Parking requirements will be accommodated on site to the greatest extent possible. Fire/Rescue apparatus to be purchased for this station includes a new Emergency Medical Services unit and related equipment. Space has been added to co-locate a future Police Substation at the fire station. Site constraints for this project include a significant Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority easement which bisects the site running north/south through the mid-parcel. A Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment has been performed.
anchorEstimated Schedule
Design began in October 2023 and is expected to be complete in December 2024. Construction is expected to begin in FY27 and complete in FY28.
anchorCost Change
Cost increases reflect updated escalation assumptions and updated land acquisition costs.
anchor Justification
The existing Rockville Fire Station #23, located at 121 Rollins Avenue, has only three bays and is extremely undersized to meet the current response time requirements. A new station is necessary in this area due to the present and projected population density for the Rockville and White Flint areas. The White Flint sector is envisioned to include a mix of housing, commercial, retail, recreation, and civic uses with the White Flint District as the focal point. White Flint is experiencing fast growth and the population is expected to increase with a significant amount of residential and commercial development, including 5,938 new proposed dwelling units and nearly 3 million square feet of new non-residential/commercial space. Relocation of Rockville Station #23 operations to the new White Flint location is needed to better position MCFRS services in relation to the high-density development in the approved White Flint Sector Plan and to minimize response time to the highest incident call load area. The new site is of sufficient size to accommodate the construction of a larger station which can house additional needed apparatus and other public safety services.
anchorOther
A number of test fits have been conducted at the proposed site located at the south-east quadrant of Route 355 and Randolph Road for the fire station and co-location of a Police substation. Land Acquisition was funded initially through the Advanced Land Acquisition Revolving Fund, and then reimbursed from this project.
anchorFiscal Note
Debt service for this project will be financed with Consolidate Fire Tax District Funds.
anchorDisclosures
A pedestrian impact analysis will be performed during design or is in progress.
anchorCoordination
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, Department of General Services, Montgomery County Police Department, Regional Service Centers and Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Special Capital Projects Legislation will be proposed by the County Executive.