Mail Processing Facility Review
Notice of Public Input Meeting

Charleston P&DC in South Charleston, WV to Pittsburgh P&DC in Pittsburgh, PA and Pennwood Place P&DC in Warrendale, PA
January 12, 2024

As part of a $40 billion investment strategy to upgrade and improve the Postal processing, transportation, and delivery networks, the U.S. Postal Service announced that it is conducting an evaluation of current operations and potential future uses of its Charleston Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) facility in South Charleston, WV. 

The USPS ten-year Delivering for America (DFA) plan includes initiatives to improve organizational and operational processes and actively make the Postal Service an efficient, high-performing, world class logistics and delivery provider.  Improvements to Postal operations will enhance the level of service provided to the public; drive innovation and enable a broader array of postal products and services; enhance organizational competitiveness; improve efficiency and lower the cost to operate; and provide better workplaces and careers for Postal Service employees.

This specific facility review will inform the best allocation of resources and strategies to improve customer service and to achieve significant cost savings through operational precision and efficiency.  Business mail entry, Post Office, station, and branch retail services are not expected to change, and delivery services will be unaffected throughout this review. The evaluation is a first step in the Postal Service review and investment process in this facility and will not result in this facility’s closure or career employee layoffs.

Public input will be considered as part of the review. A public meeting will be held to share the initial results of the study and to allow members of the local community to provide their additional feedback and perspectives on the Initial Findings of the MPFR. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 30, 2:30 PM at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Dr, Charleston WV 25301. A summary of the MPFR will be posted on about.usps.com at least one week prior to the public input meeting. 

Members of the local community may submit comments at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mpfr-charleston-wv.  

Below are some preliminary highlights from the study:

Business Case
The Postal Service is investing heavily in operations as it moves to modernize in nation’s postal network, improve customer service and achieve the organization’s goal of 95% on-time delivery across all mail products.

The initial results of the facility review support the business case for keeping the Charleston WV P&DC open and modernizing the facility as a Local Processing Center (LPC) with simplified processes and standardized layouts. The Charleston WV LPC will be a critical node to the unified movement of mail and packages across the regional processing and transportation ecosystem. The facility will offer expanded and streamlined package processing capabilities in the local market and new workplace amenities for USPS employees. Additionally, the business case supports transferring some mail processing operations to the Pittsburgh P&DC and Pennwood Place P&DC. 

Future of Facility
The Charleston P&DC will remain open and will be modernized. It will be repositioned as a Local Processing Center for destinating mail processing. It is expected that this facility will be a critical node to the unified movement of mail and packages across the regional processing and transportation ecosystem.   

Local Customers 
•	Retail and other services currently available at the Charleston P&DC will not change.
•	Business mail acceptance will remain the same. 
•	A local postmark will continue to be available at retail post offices.
•	Delivery times of mail to residence and businesses should not change throughout this review.

Commercial Mailers
•	Mailers who presort mail will continue to receive appropriate postage discounts. 
•	Mailers who drop ship to Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF) can expect no changes if the MPFR is approved.

Please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mpfr-charleston-wv to submit written comments. All written comments must be received by February 14, 2024.