The U.S. Post Office announced today it’s saving 3,700 rural post offices with a plan to reduce hours instead of putting in place closures.
In Colorado, this means that roughly 71 offices are now off the hook.
David Rupert, a spokesperson with the USPS in Denver, says the move will save the agency about $500 million per year. The plan means that post offices on the closure list, and potentially others not included on the list, will see fewer retail hours every day.
“Some communities that weren’t initially considered will see less access to their post office,” he says. “But we think this is a better alternative in the long run.”
The proposed closures were one of the most hotly contested issues during a debate in the U.S. Senate two weeks ago. The issue is now before the U.S. House.
Rupert says today's decision clears the table for discussions about 5-day mail delivery and changes to how the agency pre-funds its retirement benefits system.
The USPS also still needs to make decisions on proposed closures of more than half of its 480 mail processing centers. In Colorado, four out of six centers are on the chopping block.
To get final approval on the reduced hours plan, the postal service needs regulatory approval. It's also required to seek community input, a process that could take several months.
To learn more about the plan, click here.
