Round Rock City Council unanimously passed an updated design contract for Phase 2 of upgrades to the Public Safety Training Center at its May 8 meeting. The additional design services add $710,965 to the city's contract with Brinkley Wigington Architects.

The details

Phase 2 of improvements to the PSTC will add a high-speed driving track and expand classrooms, features that were originally cut from the first phase.

The new design contract increases the scope of service to include:

• Restrooms for the main facility classrooms
• Larger classrooms
• Emergency vehicle operations course upgrades

The additional design will improve the safety of the EVOC while also allowing for future upgrades, according to City Manager Brooks Bennett. With an in-house track, public safety personnel won't have to travel for mandatory driving courses and can access additional training.

"As we got into the details of that EVOC course, we realized that we needed to provide a better EVOC course out there," General Services Director Chad McDowell said at the May 8 meeting.

Some background

Round Rock finished construction of the PSTC in 2018 as part of the 2013 general obligation program. The facility, located in northern Round Rock, covers the training needs for the city's fire and police departments.

The enhancement will cost about $25 million, funded by the 2023 general obligation bond program. Original estimates for Phase 2 were about $13 million, General Services Director Chad McDowell said at a May 6 agenda packet briefing.

"This is going to be a lifelong project for the city of Round Rock," McDowell said. "This is a legacy project for our police and fire that will ensure they are the safest they can be on the job."