The U.S. Postal Service is considering consolidating or closing as many as 1,000 local offices across the country as it battles staggering financial problems.
As many as 15 post offices in North Texas could close, including locations in Fort Worth, Dallas, Lewisville, Irving and Arlington.
Some customers at the Oak Lawn post office in Dallas blamed the long lines for the postal service's multibillion-dollar deficit.
"I’ve waited here for 45 minutes to mail something before,” customer Chelsea Davis said.
The post office on Oak Lawn is among those on the hit list.
"If we can UPS something, we typically do, because it's way quicker,” Davis said.
The U.S. Postal Service has been struggling with a sharp decline in mail volume as people and businesses switch to e-mail for personal contact and bill paying.
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Postal officials say they have seen volume drop by 15 billion pieces this year compared to last year.
The agency is facing a nearly $7 billion potential loss this fiscal year, despite a 2-cent increase in the price of stamps in May, cuts in staff and removal of collection boxes.
Postal officials sent a list of nearly 700 potential candidates for closure to the independent Postal Regulatory Commission. More may be added, the postal service said.
A four-month study will decide if all 15 Metroplex facilities on the list will close, consolidate or continue to operate. The Postal Service said no final decisions have been made.
North Texas post offices that may close or consolidate include:
Dallas - Oaklawn
Dallas - Old Town Lewisville
Fort Worth - Alliance Airport Station
Fort Worth - Arlington Main office deliver
Fort Worth - Cityview
Fort Worth - downtown Lubbock
Fort Worth - Freedom
Fort Worth - Glencrest
Fort Worth - Riverside
Fort Worth - Seminary Hill
Fort Worth - Southeast
Fort Worth - Stockyards
Fort Worth - Wedgwood
