Is Post Office Traffic a Mess?
Since the Menomonee Falls Post Office was relocated into one facility, many Falls residents have been frustrated by the heavy traffic along a busy street.
Dropping off the mail at the post office is a pretty standard operation. However, it seems that chore is a bit of an adventure in Menomonee Falls.
Since the two Falls post office locations merged into one facility at N85W16110 Appleton Ave., dropping of the mail has been a bit more challenging for residents.
“I am shocked that there hasn't been an accident yet ... especially before Christmas. I don't think the drop-off mailboxes should be anywhere near the entrance/exit. Talk about plugging up traffic,” wrote Maryanne Zawlocki on Patch’s Facebook page post seeking feedback on the driving arrangement.
Zawlocki wasn’t alone in her frustration at the Post Office. Some have called the stop sign at the Post Office exit “the worst left turn in the village.”
“Old-timers will recall this is the original post office location when the village was considerably smaller, and it shows. Not sure why they decided to return to that location, but it was ill advised. It’s too small, a cramped parking lot and bad street location,” said Maripat Blankenheim.
Despite more than 30 critiques of the current traffic arrangement at the Post Office, the village has yet to receive an official complaint from residents.
“Engineering and Public Works have not received any complaints and Community Development has received one complaint from a neighboring business regarding a sign placed on Fleet Avenue north of Appleton Ave.,” said Director of Engineering Tom Hoffman. “It is my understanding that the sign was moved and the complaint resolved.”
The Menomonee Falls Police Department also hasn’t been taxed by the heavy traffic at the Post Office.
“It is a congested area, especially just prior to the holiday season, but we have not seen any significant increase of crashes or complaints,” said MFPD Capt. Mark Waters.
Despite the lack of noise regarding the Post Office in the corridors of Village Hall, it remains a sore spot for many Patch readers.
“In my opinion, they made a bad decision with very little foresight or planning. The traffic flow in and out of that parking lot, the small stretch of driveway used for the drop boxes, the need to merge into one lane near their building, and the rush hour,” said Tara Nooyen. “These are all things which should have been taken into consideration. I hope that nobody is seriously injured in an accident trying to get out of there.”
So what do you think? Does traffic flow need to be improved at the Post Office, and in what way? Share you thoughts with Patch, or lodge your concerns with your elected officials.
Nuitari
3:25 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Just thank your postal worker's pension plan for making your lives miserable at this crappy location.
And remember, if USPS loses less than $25 million in a DAY, then that's a good day.
Jann
3:56 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The location is awful. The lot has bad traffic flow and not enough places to park as many are posted that they are for other area businesses. There is not enough room inside either, not enough counter space to use if needed and you can't tell where the line should form. I feel sorry for anyone who has to go here on a daily basis. I mail all letter size items from the boxes at the old location even though the pickup is kind of late in the afternoon. When I need stamps I buy double what I used to so I don't have to go back again soon. Would it do any good to complain to the village? Did they have any say in this matter? It is the U.S government after all.
Steve ®
4:14 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I don't know why you go to the post office, often, or even rarely anymore.
That being said I give them $21,826 last year, and never show up at their actual building.
Jann
4:26 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Steve you perhaps own a business so they come to you. The person who needs to mail a package once in a while just goes there, and its not fun! If you are wondering why I don't use Fedex or UPS it is because my kids college won't deliver from them to the dorm and if you don't pick up in 24 hours, they return it to the sender. The post office delivers right to the dorm.
Steve ®
4:39 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Correct, I own a business that uses UPS and USPS. But they do the same for the residential customer.
I have a 3rd party software to print all kinds of USPS postage but you can go to USPS.com Go to Click & Ship. Print your own postage right at your house, schedule a pick up, and they come right to your door and pick up whatever you have. You even get a nice discount for doing this online. There is zero need to go there on most cases. You can even buy stamps online and they mail them to you. Try it sometime.
College I went to: UPS would deliver to the RA main station at the dorm. You would get a note in your mailbox and you showed the mail room kid the note and they gave you the package.
I ship to a lot of colleges and dorms. Not that I don't believe you but it's a little odd.
Jann
5:22 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Steve, it is odd, but that's the way they do it. Believe me when the kid calls and says he forgot something of importance at home on his weekend visit (think glasses, contacts, charger etc.) I want the monkey off my back ASAP and head over to the post office to get rid of the package ASAP. Just go there once and you'll see the mess they've created.
Steve ®
6:40 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I just went over there to handle some long over due business and see the lot. The issue I saw was trying to make a left turn when exiting. This needs to be prohibited. The bonehead in front of me was trying one during rush hour, yeah I was not happy as it took foooooooooooever.
Right turn only.
Place looks nice inside, same friendly employees and they know me even though I never stop in. There seems to be plenty of parking the drive through mailboxes can cause a congestion spot.
babecityrollers
7:35 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I agree that the exit onto Appleton Ave should be right turn only.
RES
7:17 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
How about just putting up a stoplight. This would slow down the traffic. Allow left turns, and allow pedestrians to cross safely.
Steve ®
10:06 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Stop lights are very very expensive, we have enough in this town already, and it is an exit from a parking lot, not a street. So it isn't designed correctly IMO to have a stop light.
jerry mislang
8:08 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
I prefer angle parking over the straight in stalls, at least you know "most" cars are going one direction. Hard to get in, hard to find a spot sometimes due to reserved spots, hard to get out. Not a fan.
Lori
8:10 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
The inside is fine, but the parking and traffic is horrendous. Not enough parking spaces for postal customers (as the other businesses take up alot of the space). Very dangerous leaving the lot. Accidents waiting to happen. Disappointed they went back to this location.
Pj
9:14 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
I go to Brookfield post office, Menomonee Falls post office nicely put is a pain in the you know what!
diane brooks
9:46 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
just wonder WHOS BIG IDEA WAS THIS?
Barb V
3:21 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
We visit the Post Office (by choice) almost daily. I believe they intentionally chose a too small location in an attempt to look forward to the day when almost no one goes to a Post Office anymore. People were waiting OUTDOORS to get in on at least several occasions during December and it's true you can't easily tell where the line is. We prefer to choose quiet times of the day and have had few issues. I tried their pick up service a few times but there is no consistent time that they show up and it was never the same person so we had to deal with directing the new carrier every time. We wanted to go home and not wait around for the pick up person to show up. Does everyone know you can give any of your outgoing stamped mail AND packages to your regular carrier?
Steve is correct- You can also simply go to USPS.com Go to Click & Ship. "Print your own postage right at your house, schedule a pick up, and they come right to your door and pick up whatever you have. You even get a nice discount for doing this online. There is zero need to go there on most cases. You can even buy stamps online and they mail them to you". If you are even 1/2 way computer literate you SHOULD try it sometime. The best part IS the discount!
Barb V
3:22 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Question for all of you...is it time for a "Contract Station" in the Falls? Do you remember Lomillers Drug Store (sp?), where you could buy stamps, mail anything? IF I understand it correctly, Its a official Post Office satellite location where the owner of the store is trained similar to a Post Master. The store conducts normal PO Business. Gets paid by a percentage of each days sales. MUCH cheaper then building and staffing a new Post Office! What do you think? Where should it be located?
Jann
11:53 am on Friday, February 1, 2013
Barb V - We have a mail box mounted to the house and have on occasion put letters in there for the carrier to take. A few times due to wind the letters either fell inside the box (which would not be seen by the carrier) or went blowing through the yard. There have also been recent cases in the Falls where outgoing mail and incoming were stolen from boxes. I don't want to sit around watching my mail or package to make sure it gets picked up before it gets ripped off. Sadly, these are the times we live in.
I was a kid when I went to Lomillers with my mom and remember not only postal service, but greyhound bus service too. I'm not sure if you were charged the same for the postage stamps or not. I think the post office should have kept the location they had (even though it may not be centrally located) because it was larger and had ample parking. That strip mall is almost vacant now except for the day care.
Nancy H
9:13 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
It STINKS - nothing good about the location whatsoever! I am handicapped and drive a car. The mailboxes are too high for a car. I can not reach the box and it is too difficult to step out of the car to put the mail in on foot.
I am happy to still use the mailboxes at the old location, however, there is only one pick -up and that is at 3 pm. I can not get there until after 3pm and I wish they would still have their later pick-up!
Try getting out of the first handicapped parking space and try getting on to Appleton Ave. , near impossible with everyone driving in there to the mailboxes, ugh!
I find it scary trying to get in and out of Appleton Ave., accidents just waiting to happen.
Christoph Mueller
7:20 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I use the UPS store on appleton ave. In and out in 5 min. You can even buy a book of stamps at some gas stations. These two locations cost a little more ,but worth it.
Jim Brundage
2:28 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
The Post Office is right where it shoud be
- in the center of town, easy to find and access for all residents.
Drop times should be scheduled for as late as possible prior to shipping the mail to the downtown mail processing facility.
Left hand turns out of the Post Office should be illegal for safety reasons. Mailers can turn right and go around the block in order to go southeast on Appleton Ave.
A retired Postal Supervisor
Jann
5:21 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
Are you suggesting that people go through a residential area to turn around? I'd hate to live on that street. What was the reason the post office moved in the first place to the location further north? I betting it was a space issue. They could have found a centrally located area some place else. We have a lot of vacant stores and spaces in strip malls.
The current location may be easy to find, but its not easy access.
Nuitari
7:19 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
Enjoying your pension?
Nuitari
7:24 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
This has been a complete FAIL on the village.
These concerns should have been addressed and fixed. Were there no conditional use permits issued to return operation to this building? What tops it off we have case history with this and don't tell me the population and demand was lower back when this was the only, original location. I can remember my parents burning rubber out of the driveway to get across traffic back in the 80s.