The Facilities Information and Communication Committee, in the interest of informing the community about the South River Road Police and Fire Complex Proposal, will provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions in the days leading up to the March 12 Town Election.
Police and Fire leadership, Town officials, and Consultants with expertise in this area reviewed a number of options and provided their expertise and feedback. The main goals were to develop modern facilities for our first responders, improve response times to high-call areas, and to create the most cost-effective proposal for Bedford’s taxpayers.
Following a comprehensive review of all options, Town officials decided to move forward with plans for a new police station and fire substation located in the South River Road area.
The Fire Department covers 33 square miles from a single location. A second fire station located in the South River Road corridor, the area with the highest call volume, will allow for improved response times and better outcomes. While the Police Station can be located anywhere, creating a shared public safety space meets the needs of both departments while reducing costs.
As we discovered with the construction of the joint Middle/High School, fiscal prudence and careful design can result in benefit to the whole community. The school is truly the heart of the community and helps to retain property values. Likewise, constructing a new Police and Fire building will improve public safety and help assure that homebuyers and business owners continue to seek out Bedford as their first choice to purchase a home or establish a business.