How Planned Postal Changes Will Affect Arizona Mail Delivery

With mail-in ballots flooding the postal service and the deluge of holiday packages about to flow into the mail system, this may seem like a strange time for the United States Postal Service to announce sweeping changes in their delivery system.

Fear not. The changes will take effect after the first of the year, but here's what you need to know.

Big Changes Coming to Arizona USPS

We've all heard this:

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

According to the USPS, that isn't their official motto. That may not be the credo they officially live by, but they are working hard to upgrade and modernize postal delivery.

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Beginning in January, the United States Postal Service is implementing significant changes. According to US News, the USPS is rolling out a series of updates that they hope will save around $3 billion a year.

READ: How Will USPS Rate Hikes Affect Arizona?

That's not chump change. If they can save money and become more efficient, we're here for it.

How USPS Mail Delivery Will Change in Arizona

So, what does this mean for your mail? First, the USPS is shifting to more streamlined regional networks. To break this down, delivery times will stay around the same as they've been - anywhere from one to three days.

The post office will tweak the overall delivery schedule a bit. For example, the Ground Advantage program, its flagship package delivery program, will now have a maximum 5-day delivery window nationwide.

Customers will have access to better, more precise delivery tracking, which is one of the coolest updates being rolled out. Package carriers like FedEx and UPS have been using this technology for a long time. Now, you'll know precisely when your postal package will arrive.

READ: The USPS Has New Policy When You Change Your Address in Arizona

Of course, rural areas will have slightly longer transit times, but the delivery will still be within the 5-day window.

How Will Holiday Packages and Election Materials Be Affected in Arizona?

Election mail and holiday packages won't be affected by the changes. If you rely on the USPS for your medication delivery, they should continue to arrive as usual or possibly even a little faster.

Overall, the USPS aims to operate more efficiently and reliably. In the late 1990s, first-class mail saw an 80% drop in first-class mail, when email became the norm. With other package carriers competing for market share, it's good to know that the OG-USPS is still a reliable option and willing to keep up with changing times and technologies.

The overall plan is rolling out over a 10-year period, so there will be adjustments along the way. It's good to know that neither technology, nor email, nor changing times will stay these couriers from their appointed rounds!

Sources: US News | NBC New York | AP News | USPS: News