Critical big ideas are at the heart of the TCU Campus Master Plan. The nuts and bolts
are safety and parking, which will be two of the first things to visibly take shape.
The TCU Board of Trustees approved the construction of a new parking garage, which
will house a new station for the TCU Police Department at the ground level at the
corner of Merida Avenue and West Cantey Street. Adrian Andrews, assistant vice chancellor
for public safety, and Robert Rangel, chief of police, recently spoke to TCU News
about what the campus can expect.
Is parking relief in sight?
Yes! Construction on the first parking garage will begin this summer and is expected
to be ready with 950 parking spaces by early spring 2027. This first garage will be
accessible to students, faculty and guests. The Campus Master Plan calls for three
to four parking garages to be built around campus in the next 10 years.
Why is the current police department moving?
TCU needs more residence halls and academic buildings to respond to the planned increase
in students. The current location is on land that will eventually be converted to
accommodate this need. While the Campus Master Plan is the catalyst for this move,
building a state-of-the-art facility for the TCU Department of Public Safety building
proves the university’s commitment to the safety of the Horned Frog community.
How will the new facility help TCU Police and campus safety?
The TCU Police Department has never occupied a building specifically built or designed
to accommodate and support all the daily operations of a police department. Furthermore,
the current public safety department is spread over three separate buildings on the
east side of campus (TCU Police Department, Police Annex Building and the Secrest-Wible
Building). Bringing the TCU Department of Public Safety under one roof will maximize
planning and execution of safety protocols, allowing for more synergy when it comes
to campus safety.
Can you tell us about the features or plans for the new facility?
The new building will include the following:
- Improved facilities for handling evidence, conducting investigations and managing resources, leading to more efficient and effective policing operations
- Additional interview spaces for criminal suspects and separate spaces for victims and witnesses
- Modern training facilities to provide ongoing education and skills development, helping officers stay prepared, contributing to job satisfaction
- A properly sized Emergency Operations Center to enable better response to major events, including severe weather or other emergencies
- The latest technology for communication, surveillance and data analysis, improving PD’s ability to monitor, prevent and respond to crime
- A node room that will help support network/infrastructure needs during emergency operations (and will also aid in further Campus Master Plan developments on the east side of campus)
During construction of the garage and department, what will be the impact on campus
parking?
Because more and more parking lots will disappear on the east side of campus to accommodate
new residence halls and academic buildings, parking will be challenging temporarily.
Conversations are taking place regarding the “growing pains” the university will experience
over the next two years.
What are users to do in the meantime?
There will be increased use of west campus parking lots near Amon G. Carter Stadium.
Shuttle service is being expanded and will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through
Friday. There will be two routes with multiple bus stops.
Where can I find more information?
The TCU Parking & Transportation web page will publish updates on parking changes, and major project news can be found on the
website for the TCU Campus Master Plan.