The number of Alaska post offices being studied for possible closure is down to five – and Douglas is still on the list.
The others are Elmendorf, Fort Wainwright, Eielson and the Anchorage Postal Store. That’s according to a U.S. Postal Service internal study provided to Alaska’s Congressional delegation yesterday (Thursday), and shared with the media.
Originally 36 Alaska post offices were being considered for closure. Twenty-five remote locations were eliminated from consideration almost immediately, and six more came off the list in the last month.
As we reported yesterday (Thursday), three Postal Service officials from Anchorage got an earful from Douglas Post Office customers Wednesday night arguing that the station should stay open.
Alaska District Manager Diane Horbochuk says several factors will determine which offices make the final closure list, including the cost to run each location, access to other post offices, volume, customer demand, and public input.
Communities can appeal if their post office makes the closure list.
Thousands of post offices nationwide are being studied for possible closure by the financially strapped agency, which is facing a 10-billion dollar shortfall.
