Construction on the new Fire Station No. 5 began over the summer, and Coppell Service Center renovations began in October. Next summer, city officials expect to start reconstructing Royal Lane from Sandy Lake Road to SH 635.
City officials expect the new fire station to increase the fire department’s bandwidth and lower response times, while the service center improvements will provide improved work spaces for Public Works and Community Experiences staff.
“Now is the perfect time to move forward, as the needs of our growing city demand updated facilities that promote efficiency, innovation and collaboration,” Public Works Director Mike Garza said in an email. “This investment ensures we’re well-equipped to meet current demands while planning for the future.”
The overview
The three projects are funded by a $53.5 million bond package, which the council approved in May. The bonds were then sold in August, said Kim Tiehen, director of strategic financial engagement, in an email.
The bond allocated around $12 million each for the fire station and service center, respectively, with the Royal Lane project expected to cost $24 million, according to district documents. The principal and interest for the bonds are repaid with the interest and sinking portion of the city tax rate, Tiehen said. The principal and interest due during fiscal year 2024-25 is approximately $8.5 million.
When issuing the recent bond, city staff maintained the current tax rate. The bonds were to be issued in 2023 and were delayed until 2024 to meet this objective, Tiehen said. Officials plan to repay the bond debt by 2044 at an interest rate of 3.782%.
Diving deeper
Construction of the $11.5 million fire station at 157 S. Moore Road is nearly half complete, Fire Chief Kevin Richardson said.
The station will be the fifth for the city, and its central location will allow for better coverage and increased response times as call volumes increase yearly, Richardson said. The additional fire station could also reduce insurance rates for homeowners.
While the new station will be a valuable tool for recruiting new fire candidates, Richardson said there are no plans to hire more personnel.
“I’m excited that our community supports our public safety efforts so that we can get out there and provide them high-level service,” he said.
What else
The 30-year-old service center houses the Community Experiences Park Operations division, along with Special Events, Community Programs, Special Projects, and administrative teams. The South Coppell Road site will provide additional meeting, work and storage space, and will feature improved locker rooms for staff, Community Experiences Director Jessica Carpenter said in an email.
“The new service center will allow our teams to have access to flex spaces, additional meeting and storage space, and will be equipped with improved locker room areas for staff who need to change their clothing or shower after their shift,” Carpenter said. “Our park operations team maintains over 545 acres of park land, many miles of trails, multiple playgrounds and open spaces each day, which can often be dirty work.”
Plans entail constructing additional parking and a new 9,052-square-foot building that will house the departments’ office staff and include a training space for all city staff use, Garza said. The parking lot expansion was completed the first week of December. Afterward, construction of the new building and renovation of the existing service center is anticipated to take about 16 months.
In addition to improving work conditions for city staff, the new center will contain a space that fosters better communication and collaboration between public works and residents through community meetings, Garza said.
“It’s an opportunity to strengthen trust and build a stronger connection by showing our commitment to serving the community in a modern, accessible environment,” he said.
One more thing
Royal Lane cuts through Coppell north to south beginning at a junction with East Sandy Lake Road and moving across I-635 before paralleling Hwy. 114 through Dallas where it terminates in Lake Highlands.
“The numerous businesses on the west side of town that rely on Royal Lane make up a significant portion of the community’s tax base,” Garza said. “After reconstructions of Freeport and S. Belt Line, Royal is where we see the most need for the next major arterial reconstruction.”
The project will reconstruct the entirety of Royal Lane in Coppell, from Sandy Lake Road to I-635, and will tie-in to the recent improvements to the DART railroad crossing that were completed for the Silver Line rail project, Garza said. City officials expect to bid the project in winter 2025. The road serves between 15,000-20,000 vehicles per day, and drivers can expect to see temporary closures and new traffic patterns.
“Continual investment in road improvements is critical to ensure safety and support economic activity. It also helps reduce overall costs in the long run," Garza said. “Putting off regular maintenance can lead to substantial issues with the pavement and roadbed occurring sooner. On the flip side, delaying a reconstruction project can result in increased regular maintenance costs just to keep the roadway in acceptable condition.”
Looking ahead
While subject to change, the city plans to have all three projects complete by 2027.
Construction of Royal Lane is expected to begin next spring and complete the spring of 2027. Officials anticipate completing the fire station by next summer and the service center by summer 2026.
