Proposed Plan Would Bring Registry of Motor Vehicles Back To Framingham

Editor's Note: Originally published 10:38 a.m. July 22, 2013.

Written by Mary MacDonald

The state Registry of Motor Vehicles may consolidate all but four of its branch offices, creating instead 12 regional centers that would serve state customers, including once center in Framingham.

The consolidation, conceptual at this point, is designed to increase efficiency and improve customer service, including wait times. The proposed regional centers, including in Framingham, would place the RMV offices into larger buildings with more desks and employees than the branch offices, according to a report on the proposed consolidation.

As part of the modernization plan, the RMV would phase out some in-person functions, including registration renewals.

All but four of the existing branches — in Greenfield, Nantucket, on Martha's Vineyard and in Boston — would close under the consolidation plan.

This means the Natick branch would close. 

The Framingham branch closed a few years back and is now the Pearl Street Cafe & Cupboard, operated by the United Way of Tri-County.

In addition to Framingham, regional centers would be opened in Barnstable, New Bedford, Raynham, Braintree, Burlington, Haverhill, Lowell, Worcester, Leominster, Springfield and Pittsfield.

The proposal is part of a report "Modernizing the Registry of Motor Vehicles" released following a July 17 meeting of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation board of directors. According to a spokeswoman, the report was "well received and further analysis will be done on the regionalization concept."

The branch closures, if approved, would be several years away, noted MassDOT spokeswoman Sara Lavoie, in an email message.

"[The plan is a] concept for the future of the RMV including improving technology, developing new third party partnerships and exploring a move toward branch regionalization in order to better serve the customer. Branch closures or new openings are not imminent," said DOT spokesperson Sara Lavoie on Monday. "This is a concept that is years away from reality. It was presented to the Board of Directors on Wednesday (July 17) and it was well received and further analysis will be done on the regionalization concept."