Critz Urges Residents to Return USPS POSTPlan Surveys

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- Congressman Mark S. Critz (PA-12) announced today that the United States Postal Service (USPS) has begun conducting surveys and public meetings in order to implement the POSTPlan – which seeks to reduce hours at 13,000 nationwide post offices, including hours at 129 post offices in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District.  The POSTPlan will survey local residents and solicit community input to help determine the best course of action for providing postal services to our local communities. 

“Through the efforts of local residents, we successfully fought the U.S. Postal Service’s plan to close 35 area post offices,” said Congressman Critz.  “But because Congress refuses to act to help solve the Postal Service’s fiscal problems, they are being forced to reduce hours at 13,000 post offices across the nation.  In the coming weeks and months, the U.S. Postal Service will be sending local residents a letter and survey explaining the POSTPlan process. The results of this survey will help to determine future post office hours of operations, and it’s crucial that residents respond to the questions to help show the importance of post offices in our rural communities.”

The letter being mailed to residents will also provide information about a community meeting, in which USPS representatives will be present to solicit community input.  Just this week, residents in Grindstone, Fayette County, have received notice of a meeting that will take place on November 7, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. at the Grindstone Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall.

Last year, the U.S. Postal Service announced plans to close as many as 3,700 rural post offices throughout 2012, including 35 post offices in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District.  Congressman Critz has led the fight within Congress to save our rural post offices from closure and to help solve the U.S. Postal Service’s fiscal problems.  In January of this year, Congressman Critz held a series of “Protect Our Rural Post Offices” events for residents to sign petitions against the targeted closure of local post offices.  In February, he called for a moratorium on the post office closure studies.  In March, Congressman Critz wrote to the Postal Regulatory Commission requesting an immediate review of a discovered “loophole” to close post offices outside of the public review and appeals process. In April, he organized a petition drive to save post offices in Derry, New Florence, New Alexandria and East Vandergrift from closure.  These organized efforts helped result in a nationwide halt to the closure of rural post offices and the renewal of leases for certain post offices in Westmoreland and Somerset Counties. 

Residents are urged to contact Congressman Critz’s Johnstown Office with any questions or concerns: 814-535-2642 or 1-800-289-2642.