How USPS’s New Service Plan Impacts Missoula Residents

April 1 marks the start date for some major changes to the United States Postal Service, and no, this isn’t an April Fools’ prank. USPS is fine-tuning what its service standards are, meaning some mail will (hopefully) move faster and some deliveries might take a little longer. So, what does that all mean for us few people in Missoula that still enjoy the thrill of getting real, actual mail? Let’s break it down.

What’s Changing?

USPS is tightening up its delivery times to make service more consistent. The main highlights:

• First-Class Mail isn’t going to change. Still a five-day maximum delivery time.
• Marketing Mail (a.k.a. the endless junk mail) will have a reduced, more consistent delivery window.
• Periodicals and Package Services (magazines and those weirdly shaped boxes from Etsy) will also have their timelines streamlined.

The goal? USPS tries to save money while ensuring that your mail arrives when they promise. Sounds good in theory, right?

How Does This Impact Missoula?

For those of us who live here, the biggest story is that our mail isn’t going to go to another city for processing, and that means letters sent to other places in Missoula won’t get a scenic tour through another town.

Read More: Fight Over: USPS Will Keep Mail Sorting in Missoula

USPS is even spending $12.2 million to upgrade our local facility, so maybe those holiday packages won’t get lost along the way this time.

What You Can Expect

These plans suggest more dependable mail service, fewer work stoppages, and a more effective system. Of course, it’s the United States Postal Service, so we’ll wait and see whether “refined service standards” means “fewer lost bills and faster Amazon returns.”