06-28-2007, 01:49 PM
Oh goodie, a topic I can offer some assistance. On the mainland, I handle citizen advocacy. I help our citizens get things resolved or at least get them an answer. Although the USPS is not an agency we have control over, throughout the years I've gotten enough calls to know where to direct people and in the process learned quite a bit.
First let's dispel some myths:
1. Nothing in postal regulation prohibits them from delivering mail on unimproved roads. If the thoroughfare is a public road, they can't deny delivery because it' not paved. Of course, if the road is a danger, that's another story. Mail is delivered on dirt roads all the time on the mainland.
2. Nothing in postal regulations prohibits them from traveling on private thoroughfares to deliver mail. There are thousands of private roads with postal door-to-door service. Just look at Beverly Hills, do you think those people want a P.O. Box or want a real fancy street address? Yet many of those roads are private. Now, nothing says they must, deliver on private roads it's a call by the local Postmaster and Regional Director based on a totality of the situation.
3. It does not matter in the slightest if it's "City", "Rural" or "Contracted" carrier service, if postal regulations require delivery to an address or location, they can't refuse because they don't want to hurt their vehicle. They are paid to deliver a route and if that route has unimproved roads, they either accept the complete route or do something else.
Now, from what I'm hearing, the issue really seems to be that of private and unimproved roads along with mail deliver development standards. Here on the mainland, developments with private roads (paved or unimproved) can get area delivery if they install CMB's at their expense and are responsible for the maintenance of the units. I'm not sure when, but the USPS started requiring CMB's instead of individual roadside boxes in developments especially if the roads are private.
What I would recommend to everyone, this is not a fight for a few or many going off on their own trying to get solutions or answers. You need to solicit the assistance of your Congressional Representative to assist. First, you need to organize under a single umbrella. Be it a HOA or a Special Postal Committee, or whatever. Next write a letter to your local Postmaster asking for the specifics of why this area can't get mail delivery service and what does the USPS require to start mail delivery service? It does not matter what the USPS tells anyone of you. It only matters what they put in writing. If they have to put it in writing, you'll be surprised what answers they send back and I bet it won't be the 'whatever they felt like saying' line anymore. With your Representative involved, I bet they will agree to some form of pilot program. It may require the installation of CMB's along a paved main arterial thoroughfares through the subdivision with many grouped together to cover the current and future needs of the residents.
Someone asked how much these boxes cost, the cost of a typical 18 CMB on pedestal delivered to CA is around $1,200 with all keys and postal paperwork for the Postmaster. You can figure out how many you need from there. There are also rules on the specific location, pull outs, road-side markings, lighting, etc.
There are several other successful options but the above seemed to work in most cases.
You can also have everyone in the development petition their federal elected representatives for more Post Office Boxes. Explain that its not like on the mainland where you CAN get individual delivery but CHOOSE a PO Box, here you CAN’T get individual delivery and are FORCED to use a PO Box, but there aren’t any available. I bet your federally elected representatives haven’t a clue that this is going on.
First let's dispel some myths:
1. Nothing in postal regulation prohibits them from delivering mail on unimproved roads. If the thoroughfare is a public road, they can't deny delivery because it' not paved. Of course, if the road is a danger, that's another story. Mail is delivered on dirt roads all the time on the mainland.
2. Nothing in postal regulations prohibits them from traveling on private thoroughfares to deliver mail. There are thousands of private roads with postal door-to-door service. Just look at Beverly Hills, do you think those people want a P.O. Box or want a real fancy street address? Yet many of those roads are private. Now, nothing says they must, deliver on private roads it's a call by the local Postmaster and Regional Director based on a totality of the situation.
3. It does not matter in the slightest if it's "City", "Rural" or "Contracted" carrier service, if postal regulations require delivery to an address or location, they can't refuse because they don't want to hurt their vehicle. They are paid to deliver a route and if that route has unimproved roads, they either accept the complete route or do something else.
Now, from what I'm hearing, the issue really seems to be that of private and unimproved roads along with mail deliver development standards. Here on the mainland, developments with private roads (paved or unimproved) can get area delivery if they install CMB's at their expense and are responsible for the maintenance of the units. I'm not sure when, but the USPS started requiring CMB's instead of individual roadside boxes in developments especially if the roads are private.
What I would recommend to everyone, this is not a fight for a few or many going off on their own trying to get solutions or answers. You need to solicit the assistance of your Congressional Representative to assist. First, you need to organize under a single umbrella. Be it a HOA or a Special Postal Committee, or whatever. Next write a letter to your local Postmaster asking for the specifics of why this area can't get mail delivery service and what does the USPS require to start mail delivery service? It does not matter what the USPS tells anyone of you. It only matters what they put in writing. If they have to put it in writing, you'll be surprised what answers they send back and I bet it won't be the 'whatever they felt like saying' line anymore. With your Representative involved, I bet they will agree to some form of pilot program. It may require the installation of CMB's along a paved main arterial thoroughfares through the subdivision with many grouped together to cover the current and future needs of the residents.
Someone asked how much these boxes cost, the cost of a typical 18 CMB on pedestal delivered to CA is around $1,200 with all keys and postal paperwork for the Postmaster. You can figure out how many you need from there. There are also rules on the specific location, pull outs, road-side markings, lighting, etc.
There are several other successful options but the above seemed to work in most cases.
You can also have everyone in the development petition their federal elected representatives for more Post Office Boxes. Explain that its not like on the mainland where you CAN get individual delivery but CHOOSE a PO Box, here you CAN’T get individual delivery and are FORCED to use a PO Box, but there aren’t any available. I bet your federally elected representatives haven’t a clue that this is going on.