In what might spell relief for many residents, the Illinois Secretary of State's Office has launched a new temporary DMV facility in Orland Park, a Chicago suburb. The new spot, located at 18230 Orland Pkwy, is set to enhance accessibility and service offerings, including driver's license renewals and behind-the-wheel road tests, according to a statement from Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. The facility promises extended operational hours, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Previously, the state rented a facility at 14807 S. Ravinia Ave from Orland Township, but the township trustees, having voted to revoke the DMV lease due to space and parking issues, forced the unexpected move. With the new space provided by the nonprofit Communities Transform Futures (CTF), the DMV was able to reopen without cost to the state or local taxpayers, breathing life into an unused facility, intending to give back to the community it serves, as reported by CBS News Chicago.
The abrupt termination of the lease for the previous DMV office sparked criticism from the local community in June, prompting the village to act fast in coordination with the Illinois Secretary of State's office to ensure the continuity of DMV services. "Orland Park is a busy full-service DMV," Giannoulias pointed out in a statement obtained by NBC Chicago. "That’s why we made it a top priority to not only ensure that residents didn’t experience any disruption in services but also expanded the hours and added additional services."
Notable was the opening of the new facility prior to the scheduled time due to the unexpected assembly of a long line of eager community members, underscoring the high demand for the DMV's services. The location in Orland Park has been an institution for over 30 years, handling more than 60,000 customers annually. Giannoulias hailed the collective effort, saying, "This was a total team effort, and a win-win-win for DMV customers, for Southland residents, and for Illinois taxpayers," according to a CBS News Chicago interview. Despite the temporary fix, the search for a permanent DMV location in Orland Park remains ongoing.
