Rapid growth in Melissa, Forney puts pressure on post offices – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Evidence of the growth of Melissa's town can be found in its post office, where residents' mail is distributed in the open space next to the parking lot and next to a tent where it is sometimes sorted.

“I've seen the town grow from about 4,000 to 20-some thousand population, so, actually, it needs to expand,” said Wylie Sims, a Melissa resident.

In 2022, Melissa's city manager told NBC 5 the city asked the US Postal Service and a then-congressman about an upgrade to the facility.

Not much has changed since then and thousands more have moved to Melissa.

It's a similar issue in Forney where the Post Office is being renovated.

A sign in the window says the retail sections will be temporarily moved to the trailer in September as part of the ongoing renovation.

Natasha Rivera has lived in Forney for nearly 20 years.

“With the population the way it is now, we definitely need a bigger post office here in Forney,” said Rivera, who added that she has never had problems with service at the facility.

In an email, a USPS representative said:

“As an important part of the communities we serve across the country, including in Melissa, TX and Forney, TX, the US Postal Service strives every day to provide excellent service. Like many other parts of the North Texas region, those cities have experienced rapid population growth over the past several years. We are constantly working to assess the needs of each community and make plans to determine how best to provide efficient and timely postal services. In Melissa, the Postal Service is pursuing a permanent solution to account for growth in the area, including adding delivery routes, which were recently expanded at the Melissa Post Office. In Forney, similar efforts to accommodate rapid growth are underway. We continue to communicate with all stakeholders about the status of our operations and the solutions we are steadily working towards. The Postal Service appreciates the patience of our customers and the hard work and dedication of our employees as we continue to provide the highest quality service to the Melissa and Forney communities.”