Artesia News

Congresswoman Opens Up Post Office ‘Snorkel Lane’


June 6, 10:15 a.m. –

Congresswoman Linda Sanchez participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Artesia post office’s new mail “snorkel lane” for drive through mail drop-offs. Mayor Larry R. Nelson, Councilwoman Sally Flowers, Councilman John Martins, and Postmaster Chuck Avilla joined the congresswoman in the ceremony.

The “snorkel lane” is on Alburtis Ave. and will serve to divert traffic away from the post office parking lot. In the past, the drive through area was in the post office parking lot, the resulting traffic has been the source of many complaints to the city and district.

Over the years, as the population grew, the traffic at the post office became more and more congested.

While most of the people who visit the post office are simply dropping off mail, the post office’s parking lot has proved inefficient for the job of handling plenty of traffic. The drop off lane was cut into the sidewalk on Alburtis St. to allow cars to easily gain access to drop off mail boxes from the street without entering the post office parking lot or creating congestion on Alburtis.

According to Hui Lai, city traffic engineer, the “snorkel lane” is supposed to “reduce congestion at the front parking lot … to siphon some traffic over this way to the snorkel lane.”

Congresswoman Sanchez helped secure $80,000 from the federal government for the improvements.

“Over the years, the city has developed a number of traffic problems … and budget problems made it hard to do renovations,” said Congresswoman Sanchez.

“The ‘snorkel lane’,” Sanchez said, amused by the name, “[will] hopefully go a long way in improving traffic.”

“It is really amazing how such a small improvement can make a huge difference in the safety and efficiency of the post office for all its patrons,” said Sanchez.

Richard Maher, public affairs officer for the postal service said, “It’s a real smart solution to the problem.”

Mayor Larry R. Nelson opened it up with his trademark phrase, “Every day is a good day in Artesia”, and cited today as an example.

After cutting the ribbon, Congresswoman Sanchez and Mayor Nelson each broke in the mailbox by dropping envelopes into the mailbox. Nelson, with authenticity in mind, decided also to drive a PT Cruiser through the snorkel lane and drop a letter into the box.

For more information, please call (562) 860-0394
Above: Congresswoman Sanchez presented a certificate of recognition to Ed Vander Woude for his hard work with the postal service
Mayor Nelson places one of the first letters into the mailbox
Above: Congresswoman Sanchez breaks in the mailbox in the “snorkel lane”
Linda Sanchez, Congresswoman
Representing the 39th District of California
 Mayor Nelson drives up in a PT Cruiser to drop off some mail
Caption for Photo at top of page: , Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, Mayor Larry R. Nelson, and Postmaster Chuck Avilla, cut the ribbon for the new “snorkel lane” at the Artesia post office, joined by Council Members Sally Flowers and John Martins.

 

 

 


 

 

 

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