The Wyoming Department of Transportation is implementing a $20 million computer system upgrade this summer, the most significant overhaul since 1986.
The last time these systems were upgraded, “Top Gun” was the No. 1 movie, Falco’s “Rock Me Amadeus” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and Wyoming elected a Democrat, Mike Sullivan, to the governor’s office.
The agency is upgrading its Driver Services and Revenue Information Service systems to MAX, a new software system available in WYDOT offices statewide.
“If you think of any technology from the 1980s to now, there are drastic differences,” WYDOT spokeswoman Jordan Young told Cowboy State Daily. “We know the stereotypes of the DMV, and we want to buck that trend as much as possible.”
40 Years, $20 Million
Young said the $20 million for the MAX upgrade comes from the department’s budget. Unlike many other WYDOT projects, no federal money was allocated for the overhaul.
“We can't use federal funding on things related to Driver Services,” she said. “It’s a pretty big overhaul to our system, and that comes with a cost, and you know, we had to budget appropriately and ensure we were ready for that cost.”
WYDOT’s been squirreling away money in anticipation of the overhaul. Now, it’s ready to install the new systems in all the offices across Wyoming.
Young said the MAX software is much more user-friendly for WYDOT employees. That’s to be expected compared to software that was cutting-edge midway through Ronald Reagan's second term.
“This upgrade has involved a lot of boots-on-the-ground employees making sure that it’s as efficient as it's promised to be,” she said. “Our employees are actively involved in the transition, testing the system and making sure it works for Wyoming.”
Self Service
There’s already a lot of positive buy-in from the employees who will be working with the system, but Young said Wyoming residents will also share the benefits. MAX's public server, oneWYO, will make many services more convenient for anyone with an internet connection.
“Not only is it going to be easier for our employees to use, but it’s going to make things a lot simpler for the public as well,” she said. “There will be self-service features for the public that we haven't had previously, which will provide increased, more efficient customer service.”
Those online self-service features include renewing driver’s licenses, ordering driving records and handicapped placards, and scheduling appointments for a driving test. That’ll reduce the waiting times at WYDOT’s Driver Services offices, which anyone would perceive as a net positive.
“We all know the stereotypes commonly associated with visiting ‘the DMV,’” said Driver Services Program Manager Misty Zimmerman. “MAX and oneWYO are our latest tools to fight those stereotypes in Wyoming.”
WYDOT’s current Revenue Information System serves over 1,000 people per day. It’s so archaic that the department’s IT team can barely keep it up and running.
“MAX and oneWYO will be much more streamlined,” Young said. “Instead of mailing things and writing checks, everything will be online.”
However, the DMV isn’t transitioning to a completely online experience. Wyoming statute still dictates that residents have to make an in-person visit to renew their driver’s license every other time, which means one visit every ten years rather than every five years.
WYDOT will also maintain its Driver Services offices throughout Wyoming, recognizing the importance of the in-person experience.
“The public won't have to come to the office for everything, but know how important our Driver Services offices are to the public,” Young said.
There’s An App For That
Wyoming became the twelfth state to authorize digital driver’s licenses in 2020. The technology to support that amenity hasn’t been available until now.
Young said the MAX and oneWYO can support digital driver’s licenses. However, the implementation is still a ways off.
“We ensured that ability was in place with MAX, but there are no immediate plans to go to digital driver's licenses,” Young said. “Our employees are focusing on the average day-to-day operations of Driver Services right now.”
When the time comes, WYDOT, MAX and oneWYO will be ready to provide a digital license that can be presented as a legal ID via Apple Wallet or a separate app.
WYDOT will inform Wyoming residents when that feature is available, but it won’t be anytime soon. At the very least, the system to support it is now in place.
“We’re focusing on making sure this software upgrade goes smoothly, and then they can look at other big projects like that in the future,” Young said.
Temporary Closure TBD
Since MAX and oneWYO will be available at all of WYDOT’s Driver Services offices, there will be a transition period as the offices undergo an overhaul. Young said residents should expect their local office to close temporarily at some point this summer.
“We're still finalizing days and times, but we’ll announce the closures sometime next month,” she said. “Our goal is to minimize public impact and ensure the process is as smooth and seamless as possible.”
WYDOT employees will need to be trained on the new system. Although it is much easier to use, transitioning from software as old as the Chernobyl incident will take some time.
The upgrade to MAX and oneWYO will present enormous opportunities for Wyoming residents to save time and effort as they take care of essential services to stay safe and legal on Wyoming’s roads. The era of “the DMV joke” might be coming to an end.
“Almost everyone steps foot within a Driver Services office at some point in their adult life,” Young said. “Our new systems aren’t just for Cheyenne. It’s statewide. It’s a pretty big change that’ll make things a lot simpler for the public.”
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
