Join

6-Year Mail Decline Prompts USPS Changes

Letter Submitted By Michael Furey
USPS Northern Virginia District Manager

America needs a financially-stable Postal Service. Toward that end, the Postal Service is taking aggressive actions to preserve the long-term affordability of mail and to adapt to a changing marketplace and evolving mailing needs.

Subject to adoption of a final rule changing its delivery service standards, the Postal Service is pursuing a significant consolidation of its national network of mail processing facilities that will reduce the number of facilities from 461 to fewer than 200 by the end of 2013. No consolidations will occur before May 15, 2012.

Declining mail volumes and substantial fixed costs dictate that we take this bold action to preserve and protect the world’s leading Postal Service for our customers and our employees.

From 1940 to 2006, the Postal Service oversaw a continuous expansion of mail processing and retail facilities to meet growing demand for mail delivery.

This expanded capacity was built to handle high mail volumes that peaked at 213 billion pieces of mail in 2006.

However, since 2006, First-Class Mail volume has rapidly declined as the economy recessed and the age of digital communications advanced.

In 2011, 168 billion pieces of mail were delivered. By 2020, the Postal Service expects to deliver as few as 130 billion pieces.

By any standard, this is a steep decline.

In just the past quarter, the Postal Service lost $3.3 billion and is projecting further losses for the remainder of the year.

No one is to blame. Times have changed. So must the Postal Service. The American public and businesses are relying more on electronic communications. Bills are paid online. Friends and family interact through Facebook and Twitter.

Nevertheless, the demise of the Postal Service is greatly exaggerated. The Postal Service sustains a $900 billion industry that employs over 8 million people. Every day, we deliver to more than 151 million locations.

Even in a digital age, mail remains a powerful communications, marketing and delivery tool.

The aggressive steps we are taking to realign our mail processing network will keep mail affordable, valuable and viable for generations to come. These are responsible steps any business would take.

Submit your letter to the editor by clicking here and emailing it.

Recent Stories

What began as public anticipation of a vote to remove Historic Dumfries Virginia, Inc. (HDVI) from the Weems-Botts Museum ended with a funding cut and a shift in maintenance responsibilities — but not the eviction many feared.

A man is recovering after being shot late Thursday night in Spotsylvania County.

This article is part of a series by Potomac Local News introducing candidates for the Stafford County Board of Supervisors. This fall, voters will choose representatives for the Garrisonville, Hartwood, Falmouth, and Aquia Districts.

The folks at VDOT just gave Potomac Local News the heads-up: expect plenty of overnight lane closures and daytime work zones in Stafford County, Spotsylvania County, and the City of Fredericksburg from Sunday, Aug. 10 through Saturday, Aug. 16.

We’re excited to share that Molly’s Dog Care has officially opened its doors at 8525 Chevy Chase Lake Terrace, Suite 302, Chevy Chase, MD 20815!

Whether you’re looking for dog daycare, overnight boarding, grooming, or training, our experienced team is here to provide a safe, loving, and enriching environment for your furry family members. Our services are designed with your dog’s happiness and well-being in mind because at Molly’s, we treat every pup like our own.

A Message from Owner Aaron DeVane:

Read More

Submit your own Community Post here.

Van Metre 5K Run

Participate in the 33rd Annual Van Metre 5K Run—a race that goes further than 3.1 miles, where every stride you take supports Children’s National Hospital. The Van Metre 5K Run donates 100% of proceeds to Children’s National Hospital and has

Ă—

Subscribe to our mailing list