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The US Postal Service says up to 150 of its smaller post offices in Connecticut could close under a new reorganization plan.  The service says the changes are being driven by economic pressures, and a move to more online activity.

The branches under scrutiny for closure represent more than a third of the Postal Service’s 400 outlets in the state, and many are the smaller counter services in urban areas.  The agency won’t say how the move might affect jobs.  Postal Service spokeswoman in Connecticut Maureen Marion says the review will take into account the impact on low income and senior communities. 

"There are some for example downtown types of location where once there was foot traffic and now there is not a lot of foot traffic.  So the presence on a specific street or corner and has changed over time – that need.  Is there a way we can continue to provide the essential core mailing services to that community from a site that may be located a quarter of a mile away – it’s possible." 

The service says it’s looking to reduce its infrastructure costs as a way to keep down prices to customers, especially as it faces a projected fall in mail volumes of as much as 14% this year.  More traffic is moving to the internet, or competing services, and some has simply gone away due to the recession.  Decisions on which branches to target would come by the end of the summer with closures implemented in October.