Friday, May 11 2012 3:33PM
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced that it plans to keep hundreds of post offices located in rural communities open by reducing business hours and distributing stamps and packaging to other locations.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced that it plans to keep hundreds of post offices located in rural communities open by reducing business hours and distributing stamps and packaging to other locations.
The New York Times reports that the USPS is counting on Congress to provide more time to improve its finances, as the proposal to close most offices located in rural areas could be harmful to those communities. The plan to eliminate 3,700 rural stores and 250 mail processing centers was initially developed because these facilities' operating costs are typically higher than the revenue they bring in.
In addition to reducing hours, the USPS may also merge offices to save money without compromising service to rural residents. The plan is waiting for approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission.
"The plan today will ensure rural communities will be served by the Postal Service," said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. "It balances reducing cost with the need to serve rural America."
For further information, check out this source:
The New York Times