Chicago Post Office Continues Service Improvement

New survey: 94% of local mail delivered on-time

CHICAGO — The men and women of the U. S. Postal Service attained a 94 percent on-time performance score for overnight delivery of First-Class Mail throughout the Chicago District for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007 (July 1 through September 30, 2007).

The score is up from the 93 percent score posted in the previous quarter, and marks an overall four-point increase from earlier this year.

“These results speak to the continued improvements we have made to the way we process and deliver the mail,” said District Manager Gloria E. Tyson.  “Our employees have worked very hard to improve the service we provide and regain our customers’ trust.”

During the period of this survey, the district:

• Continued hiring new full-time letter carriers; the district has placed 337 since February.
• Completed the overhaul of automated mail sorting equipment at the downtown Chicago processing and distribution center.
• Trained and placed customer care representatives to respond to customer inquiries at 14 delivery stations.
• Launched community advisory committees in Loop/Near North/Gold Coast and Lincoln Park.

“Our work isn’t done.  We still have room for improvement,” Tyson added.  “But the gains we have made in the last six months indicate that we’re moving in the right direction, and we intend to continue the progress through the holiday season and throughout the new year.”

First-Class Mail performance is measured independently by IBM Global Business Services. The process measures First-Class Mail from the time it is deposited into a collection box until it is delivered to a home or business.

The Chicago District serves more than 1.3 million homes, businesses and Post Office boxes in the City of Chicago and six surrounding suburbs, encompassing ZIP codes 606-608.