USPS to Cutback Hours in Lieu of Closing Rural Post Offices
By: BigCountryHomePage.com Staff Reports
Updated: May 9, 2012
The cash-strapped US Postal Service says it will be able to keep thousands of rural post offices open by cutting back on operating hours.
The Postmaster General said the agency is backing off its plan to close up to 3700 post offices after May 15.
He said many rural communities voiced concern about the closings, so now the agency has devised a plan to give communities the option to keep their post office open with reduced hours.
"We heard it loud and clear," Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe says. "Our customers are concerned about losing their community identity if their post office were to close, so with our plan, the community keeps their zip code, retains it's identity, the physical structure remains in place and we keep the flag flying out front."
Under the new plan, communities can also choose to close their post office and opt for a so-called village post office, where postal services are offered in libraries, government offices or local stores like Walmart or Walgreens.
The new strategy will save the agency about a half billion dollars every year.
To see a list of the affected post offices, click here.
The Postmaster General said the agency is backing off its plan to close up to 3700 post offices after May 15.
He said many rural communities voiced concern about the closings, so now the agency has devised a plan to give communities the option to keep their post office open with reduced hours.
"We heard it loud and clear," Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe says. "Our customers are concerned about losing their community identity if their post office were to close, so with our plan, the community keeps their zip code, retains it's identity, the physical structure remains in place and we keep the flag flying out front."
Under the new plan, communities can also choose to close their post office and opt for a so-called village post office, where postal services are offered in libraries, government offices or local stores like Walmart or Walgreens.
The new strategy will save the agency about a half billion dollars every year.
To see a list of the affected post offices, click here.
