Austin City Council Approves Plans for Consolidated Public Safety Headquarters

City of Austin

New public safety headquarters will significantly enhance the City's ability to respond to emergencies.

The Austin City Council voted Thursday to approve the purchase of a 386,000-square-foot facility to serve as a consolidated headquarters for Austin Police, Austin Fire, and the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Located at 1501 and 1601 S. Mopac Expressway in Southwest Austin, the new public safety headquarters will significantly enhance the City's ability to respond to emergencies and manage incidents more efficiently through real-time coordination.

The purchase price of the building is $107.6 million and is funded through the issuance of Certificates of Obligation. The City expects to spend approximately $3 million in renovations and $9 million in design services to ensure the space suits specific public safety needs. City staff will report to Council with total renovation costs once the design phase is complete.

In addition to improved efficiency, the new public safety headquarters will allow Austin Police, Fire, and EMS staff and leadership to communicate and coordinate more effectively, leading to improved service and stronger public safety outcomes. Currently, the public safety facilities are spread across the city, between 54 and 64 years old, and in need of extensive and costly improvements.

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