The Postal Service is in the process of implementing a massive initiative to change how the mail is delivered. Instead of working out of the back of post offices, letter carriers will be relocated to large, centralized facilities called Sorting & Delivery Centers. These S&DCs will be housed in currently operating processing centers, large post offices, and eventually one of the new multi-functional mega-plants the Postal Service plans to create over the next few years.

Tens of thousands of letter carriers will find themselves working at an S&DC that’s much farther from where they live, meaning longer commutes, more driving time, and more personal transportation expenses. Then there's all the additional costs for the Postal Service that will result from the longer drive between the S&DC and its routes. Postmasters and managers will see their positions downgraded because they don’t have carriers to supervise; many of their positions will eventually be eliminated. Thousands of clerks at post offices will become unnecessary since they won’t need to provide support for the carriers.  Many of these positions will be eliminated too.

Eventually, patrons of post offices will be affected, too. Removing carrier operations eliminates one of the two main functions of a post office, and the excess space in the back will be used to justify “optimizing” the retail network. Some post offices will be relocated to smaller spaces, some will have their hours reduced, many will simply be closed. Properties that the Postal Service owns, many of them significant historic buildings, will be reviewed for disposal. The neighborhoods and towns in which these post offices are located will suffer a loss of jobs, economic activity, and social interaction. Tens of millions of households will fall within the scope of the initiative.

This dashboard tracks the news about the S&DC initiative, shares information about the latest lists of affected offices, and provides analysis of the potential impacts.