PennDOT reopening license centers

Joshua Siniscao moved to Pittsburgh from New Jersey in early March, right before the stay-at-home order took effect in Pennsylvania. As a result, he was unable to receive an essential document every new resident of a state needs: a valid driver’s license.

Now, as Gov. Tom Wolf eases restrictions that were put in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation driver’s and photo license centers are reopening in counties that have moved into the “yellow” phase of the state’s reopening plan. For people like Mr. Siniscao, that means an end to nearly two months of waiting.

“I’ve been driving around since March with my old New Jersey license,” Mr. Siniscao said at a PennDOT license center in Penn Hills. “I’ve been looking for one of these centers to open [since the stay-at-home order began] to get my new license, and since I heard this one opened today, I finally came and got it.”

John Burkholder, of Penn Hills, also went out on Friday, hoping to get his license renewed.

“I heard this one in Penn Hills opened today and figured I’d come

see for myself,” Mr. Burkholder said. “My license has been expired for some time now, so I’m glad I finally got it taken care of.”

License centers in Altoona, Bridgeville, Greensburg, New Kensington and Uniontown also opened Friday. Centers in McCandless, Butler, Johnstown, Somerset and Washington opened Saturday.

Those facilities will operate Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

The Downtown driver’s and photo license center on Smithfield Street will open Monday. It will operate Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

All the locations will have service times set aside on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, between 8:30 and 10:30 for people who are over 60 years old.

Services available at the centers include commercial driver’s license transactions, out-of-state transfers and driver’s license restoration.

Commercial road testing will not be available during the initial reopening nor will any services that can be done online.

Photo license centers have also begun reopening, with the McConnellsburg location opening its doors Friday. It will operate Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Centers in Clairton, East Liberty and Monroeville will open Tuesday.

PennDOT officials said customers seeking renewal of noncommercial licenses or IDs should renew them online or by mail to avoid unnecessary visits and because wait times will be longer due to increased demand following the closures.

A full list of driver’s and photo license facilities that are reopening and their hours of operation is on the PennDOT website at www.dmv.pa.gov.