U.S. Sen. John Boozman said Tuesday he’s optimistic about a
getting a federal highway bill passed along with possible funding
for proposed Interstate 49.

In meeting with the Times Record editorial board Tuesday,
Boozman seemed less hopeful about saving some area post
offices.

“I fought (for) post offices ever since I was elected,” said
Boozman, R-Ark. “I remember Mayor Baker out with his banner. We
were able to stave that stuff off. The post offices are going to
have to make some cuts. … They’ve lost several billion dollars.
They will have to shape up and be wiser. Those cuts have to make
sense, though, where it isn’t a great inconvenience. We’re working
with them. We working really hard to make sure what they are doing
is well thought out.”

The Postal Service announced April 28 its intention to cut costs
by consolidating mail processing performed in Fort Smith with a
mail-processing and distribution center in Fayetteville by
October.

It also has closed two post offices in Fort Smith and announced
the possible plans to close several rural post offices in western
Arkansas.

Nearly every profession’s and individual’s way of communicating
has changed in the last 10 to 15 years with the advent of email,
telephone texting and other Internet-related innovations, Boozman
said.

“When my wife Kathy learned how to text, I knew (the postal
system) was in trouble,” he said. “The whole world is communicating
in such a different way. … (The postal service is) having to
reinvent themselves, and it’s causing a lot of angst throughout the
country. … I don’t know the result yet, but we are working hard
with Congressmen (Steve) Womack and (Mike) Ross to see what we can
do.”

Changes and innovations in transportation possibly will make
projects like the proposed I-49 an easier sell.

Boozman said the expansion of the Panama Canal, expected by
2014, will allow Asian shipping to reach the East Coast and

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