Several Newton Post Offices Could Close After USPS Review

Updated 6:30 p.m.

Five Newton post offices could soon close down as part of an effort by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to "optimize" its services.

The post offices in  (02464),  (02462),  (02465),  (02458) and (Chestnut Hill, 02467) are currently part of a USPS study that is assessing post offices around the country for potential closure. 

According to information posted on the USPS website today, more customers are choosing to do their postal business online, at local shopping areas or on smartphones, leaving less of a need for USPS to maintain nearly 32,000 retail offices nation-wide.

“In the next few days the district manager will gather up observations of customer activity and employee workloads,” said Dennis Tarmey, spokesman for the USPS’s Greater Boston District.

In addition to study of customers and employees at the post offices, another factor USPS officials will consider when making their decision is what postal services are available in the area around the branch, Tarmey said. Some areas have post office services in supermarkets, convenience stores, office supply stores and pharmacies, according to the USPS.

The five Newton post offices are part of the study that includes 43 USPS retail locations across the state and 3,700 locations across the country. 

Reviewing a post office, though, does not necessarily mean that it will close. After the initial study, officials in Boston will decide whether to continue with the process, Tarmey said. Management at the Greater Boston District post office will decide within six months about which locations will close. 

“If they want to take it to the next level, people with post office boxes will receive questionnaires and questionnaires will be available in the lobby,” Tarmey said.

If the decision to shut the branch moves closer, Tarmey said, a community meeting will be called so people can ask questions in person.

The process is the same for all branches being studied, Tarmey said.

If a branch closes, USPS has said it will consider replacement options called "Village Post Offices," that would be located in local businesses, pharmacies or grocery stores. 

According to The Huffington Post, USPS lost $8 billion last year and in January announced it was reviewing 1,400 offices. So far, 280 offices have been closed and another 200 have completed review and will remain open. 

The Huffington Post also indicates that residents will be given a 60-day comment period during the review process and if the office does close, residents can appeal the decision to the Postal Regulatory Commission.

“Today, more than 35 percent of the Postal Service’s retail revenue comes from expanded access locations such as grocery stores, drug stores, office supply stores, retail chains, self-service kiosks, ATMs and usps.com, open 24/7,” Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said in the online statement. “Our customer’s habits have made it clear that they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business.”