COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
OFFICE OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 17101-1900
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

January23, 2018

The Honorable Judith L. Schwank

Senate of Pennsylvania
210 George Street, Suite 201
Reading, PA 19605

Dear Senator Schwank:

Thank you for reaching out regarding your concerns about REAL ID center
locations. PennDOT has carefully considered the impact that implementing REAL ID will
have on our driver license centers, and as you know, will be adding additional locations
to help address it.

Based on data from other states that also have optional REAL ID programs,
PennDOT anticipates that 25% of its current customers (approximately 2.5 million
people) will want a REAL ID, with about half of those customers coming in before the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deadline of October 1, 2020. We are aware of
the impact that this will have on our existing infrastructure, and have done extensive
research to determine the best general metro areas for REAL ID Centers. These are not
temporary locations, but will be integrated into PennDOT’s statewide network of driver
license centers.

We are considering a REAL ID center in the Berks County area, and will keep
you updated as a location is secured. Implementing REAL ID in a way that ensures that
customers who want a REAL ID can obtain one in an efficient and convenient manner is
our top priority. Thank you again for reaching out about your concerns, and we will keep
you posted.

Sincerely,

Leslie S. Richards
Secretary of Transportation

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 11TH DISTRICT COMMIVEES
JUDITH L. SCHWANK
AGRICULTURE & RURAL AFFAIRS,
C SENATE BOX 203011 DEMOCRATIC CHAIR
HARRISBURG, PA 17120-3011 HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES,
717-797-8925 DEMOCRATIC CHAIR
FAX: 7I7-772-0S78 APPROPRIATIONS, VICE CHAIR
AGING & YOUTH
O 220 GEORGE STREET LOCAL GOVERNMENT
STATE GOVERNMENT
READING. PA t96OS
610-929-2151 POLICY
FAX, 6lO929-2576
PENNSYLVANIA STATE SYSTEM
OF HIGHER EDUCATION,
EMAIL:senatôrschvi,nkIposensts ccm BOARD OF GOVERNORS
WESSITE: vA,wsonabrschwancom

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January 4,2018

The Honorable Leslie Richardson

Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation
8th
Floor Commonwalth Keystone Building
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Dear Secretary Richardson:

I am writing to express my great concern over the ability of the Department to handle the surge
in volume that will be created with the implementation of Real ID next year, especially in areas,
including Berks County, that will not have capacity at their existing area driver license center upgraded
or that are not in close proximity to one of the five planned new centers.

As you will recall, I have contacted the Department several times over the past several years
regarding the high volume of traffic and long wait times experienced at the photo license center located
in Shillington, Berks County. I have received reports of constituents having to wait in upwards of
three hours to get service and conclude their business. It is my understanding it now takes six months
or more to schedule an appointment for a driver license test. The replies I received from the
Department indicated that the issue was being evaluated, but to my knowledge no substantive
improvements were made. While I know the staff at our local center works diligently and efficiently,
they can only do so much given the volume of customers that visit the center. Those conditions are
only going to get worse—much worse—as we move to REAL ID implementation. My constituents
are already losing valuable work and personal time because of long delays at our local driver license
center and it is not reasonable or practical for them to travel 35 miles out of county to try and get faster
service at another location. For senior citizens and others with special familial and work obligations, it
may not even be possible.

This then is to respectMly request that the Department reevaluate current plans to enhance
existing locations or add temporary locations to include areas like Reading and Berks County that are
already well beyond their capacity to handle current demand. If we are going to ask our constituents to
pay more for a new, required product, then we ought to have a plan in place that provides adequate
service to meet demand in a reasonable amount of time.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Sincerely,

Judith L. Schwank
JLS/TG Senator_11t District
CC All Concerned Citizens