Two Bridgeport Post Offices have been included in a list of about 3,700 that have been targeted for review and possible closure.
The two offices, Noble and Barnum, could be closed as part of a plan by the U.S. Postal Service to save money as they expand their online and automated services.
The agency released its plan Tuesday and said a study will begin to see if the offices should be closed.
The Glenbrook station in Stamford was also included on the list. The Bridgeport and Stamford locations were among 15 Connecticut offices included in the potential closure plan.
There are currently five retail post offices in Bridgeport. Three were not included in the list, on Middle Street, Bayview Station and Stratford Avenue.
The Noble Station, located at 934 East Main Street, was targeted for closure in 2009 but survived after a fight from politicians and others in the community.
Mayor Bill Finch and Congressman Jim Himes both reached out to the Postmaster and encouraged him to keep the East Side office open, saying that it is necessary for the low-income, working families and the elderly population in the area.
The Barnum post office is located at 2253 Fairfield Avenue.
The plans for possible post office closures come as the agency begins to turn to other alternatives to save money.
“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,” said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe in a news release. “Our customer’s habits have made it clear that they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business.”
The Postal Service operates 32,000 retail stores across the country.
The agency also introduced a new plan known as the Village Post Office as a possible replacement option. In communities without a postal retail office and those affected by the closures local businesses such as pharmacies, grocery stores and other appropriate retailers would offer postal products and services such as stamps and flat-rate packaging, according to the news release.
It is unclear whether a Village Post Office program would be initiated in Bridgeport if the two offices are shut down.
“By working with third-party retailers, we’re creating easier, more convenient access to our products and services when and where our customers want them,” Donahoe said. “The Village Post Office will offer another way for us to meet our customers’ needs.”
“The Postal Service of the future will be smaller, leaner and more competitive and it will continue to drive commerce, serve communities and deliver value,” Donahoe added.
You can bet that Stop and Shop will be making “donations”