Lincoln Avenue licensing office to close; Goldendale stays open

YAKIMA, Wash. --Motorists in the Upper Valley will soon have to head to Union Gap to renew their driver’s license.

In response to state budget constraints, the state Department of Licensing is shutting down 10 of its offices statewide, and the Yakima office at 2111 W. Lincoln Ave. is set for an October closure.

Two workers in that office will be moved to the Union Gap office to accommodate an anticipated increase in business there, said Department of Licensing spokeswoman Selena Davis in Olympia. The Union Gap office is at 2725 Rudkin Road.

Most of the closures will occur on the west side of the state, Department of Licensing officials said.

The department opted to leave offices in rural areas such as Goldendale open so people wouldn’t have to drive too far for services.

Closing the offices will save the state about $2 million this biennium, and another $2.4 million the next biennium, Department of Licensing officials said.

Closing the Yakima office alone will save the state about $66,640 this biennium, Davis added.

In addition to Yakima, offices in Olympia, Bothell, east Seattle, west Tacoma and Vancouver will also be closed this year. All of these offices are within 10 miles of another office that they will be consolidated with, Department of Licensing officials said.

Offices in Othello, Auburn and the Greenwood area of Seattle have already closed.