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More new modern facilities to follow in Randolph, Rahway and Lodi

Cutting the ribbon on the first modernized state motor vehicle agency to be built on in Middlesex County, state MVC Acting Chief Administrator Raymond P. Martinez Wednesday reaffirmed the agency's commitment to improved customer service, enhanced security and greater safety.

The event highlighted a year-long project that officials said will bring the residents of South Brunswick and the surrounding area a more operationally efficient and customer-friendly agency.

"With well over 25 million customer contacts each year, it is important that we continue making wise investments that aid in the efficient delivery of our core services," Martinez said. "This is another tremendous milestone for the MVC as we, once again, make good on the promise that was made nearly a decade ago to reform motor vehicle services and focus attention on the areas of service, security and safety."

The new agency, located adjacent to the South Brunswick Inspection Station on Route 130, is the third prototype agency built in New Jersey and replaced the outdated, leased East Brunswick site on Route 18. The new location is designed to provide the convenience of one-stop-shopping for agency and inspection services.

Featuring nearly 7,000 square feet of customer and employee space, the agency is a modernized building with expanded service windows, photo stations, customer waiting areas and parking.

Taking into account the need to be more environmentally friendly, the building also has green components aimed at reducing energy costs for the state, such as recycled rubber flooring, a window wall and skylight for more natural light, white roofing to reflect heat and automatic sensors on light and bathroom fixtures.

The design of the facility was created by architects from STV Inc. and built by Jeral Construction. The STV design was first used at the MVC's Freehold agency, which opened in January 2009. Other sites featuring the modernized agency design are the Flemington agency, which opened in July and those under construction in Randolph, Rahway and Lodi. All new agencies are located next to an inspection station on state-owned land.

Funding for renovations and construction of a number of new agencies was established through a bond included in the Motor Vehicle Security & Customer Service Act of 2003. The funding was dedicated at the recommendation of the Fix DMV Commission when it noted the lack of investment in and neglect of the primary outlet for motor vehicle services.

"Each positive step we take as an organization relates back to our customers," Martinez said. "We are the one government agency with which nearly all New Jerseyans will come in contact with during their lifetime. This is why it is critical that we make investments that will sustain the MVC's progress and allow us to meet the needs of our customers well into the future."

In addition to modernized facilities, the MVC has a variety of other projects centered on improving its ability to provide the core services of driver licensing and vehicle titling, registration and inspection. The MVC is presently in the midst of overhauling its computer system, which is slated for completion in 2012, as well as its driver testing system, which will go live in late spring. Work is also underway on the next generation of digital driver licenses, which is designed to bring greater security and utilize enhanced technology to prevent fraud and abuse.

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM