The Postal Service plans to modernize mail operations at its south Fort Myers Processing and Distribution Center as part of a $40 million investment strategy to upgrade and improve postal processing, transportation and delivery networks. In addition to determining whether the facility will remain open and modernized as a Local Processing Center, agency officials said the business case supports transferring mail processing outgoing operations to the Tampa P&DC. Currently, a majority of mail is destined outside the Fort Myers area to the rest of the world.
The Postal Service will invest up to $26.3 million in the Fort Myers LPC, resulting in expanded and streamlined package and mail processing and distribution capabilities for the facility. These investments include $12.3 million for modernization efforts and deferred maintenance. These funds will be used for new workplace amenities for Postal Service employees, including new lighting and renovated bathrooms and breakrooms. To help improve delivery services, investments totaling $9 million will be made to locate a Flex Rover Sorter, a High-Speed Tray Sorter and two Single Induction Package Sorters into the facility.
In addition, consolidating plant operations will allow the Fort Myers LPC to be co-located with a Sorting and Delivery Center. These facilities will allow the Postal Service to provide faster and more reliable mail and package delivery over a greater geographic area. S&DCs will have upgraded sorting equipment, offer same-day or next-day delivery options.
S&DCs will be equipped with the necessary infrastructure to support the deployment of the Postal Service’s new Battery Electric Vehicles and charging stations. In locations where BEVs will be used, the Postal Service will upgrade and develop the infrastructure required for their effective deployment. Based on the average deployment numbers at S&DCs, new vehicle investment in BEVs is around $5 million per site. The S&DC that will be co-located with the Fort Myers LPC will have 161 delivery routes that are eligible to be serviced by BEVs.
