Editor’s note: The above video is KXAN coverage from Dec. 11, 2024, on residents’ concerns about a “postal desert” emerging in east Austin.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The United States Postal Service is weighing a possible new post office station in east Austin, following the closure of a site on East Sixth Street earlier this year.
KXAN reported last week about concerns from residents over a “postal desert” emerging in east Austin, with commenters on an Austin Reddit post expressing frustrations over the lack of locations in that part of the city. The USPS’ former location at 1914 E. Sixth St. was closed as of late August, based on contributors’ feedback on Yelp.
There are currently 17 USPS locations in Austin; No post office sites exist on the east side below U.S. Hwy. 290 East, west of Hwy. 183 and north of Lady Bird Lake. The majority of those sites operate west of Interstate 35.
Originally, a USPS spokesperson told KXAN last week there weren’t any plans for a new site in east Austin. In a release Thursday, the USPS said they are considering relocating services to a “yet-to-be-determined location as close as reasonably possible” to the former East Sixth Street station.
“The relocation project will consist of procuring a suitable substitute location, preparing the new location for use as a post office and then transitioning retail services to the new location,” the USPS said in an announcement Thursday. “The Postal Service is considering locations within three miles of the previous facility to be included in the search area. Retail services will continue to be available at 4516 Burleson Road, Austin, TX 78744 until the new post office is up and running.”
Customers are encouraged to share feedback on the proposed project through Feb. 2, 2025. Those comments can be mailed to the following address:
Attn: Austin, TX, East Austin Station Relocation
U.S. Postal Service
PO Box 27497
Greensboro, NC 27498-1103
After the 45-day comment period, USPS officials will review feedback and will consider the next steps for the project proposal.
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