First-Class Mail Slowing Down

The downsizing U.S. Postal Service plans to cut 252 mail processing centers and 28,000 around the country by next spring, possibly including one of two processing centers in the greater Baltimore area.

The biggest change for Aberdeen residents will be the elimination of next day delivery for first-class mail. Even if a letter is sent to an address in the same city, it will still take one to two days longer to deliver.

The planned changes will not take place until spring or summer.

"These changes are not set in stone," said a worker at the "There's no definite answer as to whether local mail will take any longer."

There are four mail processing centers in Maryland, including two in Frederick, one in Cumberland and one in Eastern Shore.

U.S. Postal Service Vice President David Williams said in certain situations next-day delivery for newspapers, magazines and other bulk mailers could be delivered the same day if printing companies meet new tighter deadlines.

"Are we writing off first class mail? No," said Williams. "Customers are making their choices, and what we are doing is responding to the current market conditions and placing the postal service on a path to allow us to respond to future changes.