Racine County will have more vehicle emission testing sites

The process is especially burdensome for county west-end residents, said Scott Selbach, the state Department of Transportation’s vehicle inspection program supervisor. The former Burlington testing station closed in late 2009.

The state contracts emission testing work to Connecticut-based Envirotest. But with that contract ending June 30, the DOT requested proposals for the next five-year contract, Selbach explained.

The agency chose Utah-based Systech International, with a very different testing program. In July it will switch from a centralized one with nine total testing stations in seven counties to a decentralized network of 200 private businesses, Selbach said. The list will be heavily loaded with auto repair shops and dealerships.

For the public, Selbach said, “What will change is the number of options.”

There will be another significant convenience added: A driver will be able to take a car to one of the sites for other work and simply have the vehicle tested while it’s there, Selbach pointed out.

As before, there is no testing fee for drivers. Systech will provide each testing site the equipment and reimburse the business $2 for each test.

“A lot of states have gone in this direction,” Selbach said. According to the DOT, 24 states now use either a decentralized network or a combination that includes centralized centers.

Racine County will have 18 of the 200 testing sites, Selbach said, with seven on the west end. The breakdown:

- Ten in the Racine area, with five having signed contracts.

- One in Franksville and under contract.

- Five in the Burlington area, three having signed contracts.

- Two in the Waterford, so far unsigned.

The Melvin Avenue testing station will close June 30, and the five Envirotest employees will be laid off. The new program starts July 1.

The change will save the state $597,000 a year, Selbach said. “I think it’s because (Systech’s) staff is much smaller in Wisconsin, and they don’t have fixed facilities.”

The five-year contract with Systech can be extended twice at three years each for a possible total of 11 years, he said.

Racine County testing sites

On July 1 the state’s vehicle emission testing program will change from a centralized program, with one testing station in all of Racine County, to a decentralized system at 18 private businesses.

Not all of the businesses have signed contracts yet, but the county will have testing sites in these areas:

- Ten in the Racine area.

- One in Franksville.

- Five in the Burlington area. 

- Two in the Waterford area.

Editors's note: An incorrect date was originally included in the story. It has been corrected.