Customers surveys indicate the U.S. Postal Service's local performance has improved since January, when complaints led to high-level meetings between New Mexico senators and the postmaster general.

The problem got so bad that one union ran radio ads seeking customer complaints to bolster its case that overworked staff led to long lines, late delivery and disappearing mail.

Since then, more letter carriers, clerks and mail processors have been hired, although more are still needed, local union officials say.

This week, a retail postal center opened in Rio Rancho. The center represents one promise from Postmaster General Jack Potter, who in January told Sens. Jeff Bingaman, a Silver City Democrat, and Pete Domenici, an Albuquerque Republican, that help was on the way.

The new center doesn't handle mail delivery, and that has some supporters saying they'd like to see more improvements - not just for fast-growing Rio Rancho but for the region.

The state's third-largest city with a population around 63,000, Rio Rancho has added 785 new addresses in the past four months, said Barbara Wood, customer relations coordinator for the U.S. Postal Service in Albuquerque.

Located in the Rio Rancho Printing building, the new center at 408 Frontage Road N.E., sells stamps and offers other services. It's operated by the printing company, which staffs the center with its own employees.

"Because Rio Rancho is so big, we're expecting to do a high volume of sales," Wood said.

The only other post office in Rio Rancho is at 900 Pine Tree Road. N.E.

Rio Rancho City Councilor Michael Williams said plans for the center have been in the works for nearly a year.

"Actually, they promised five" additional service centers, Williams said of the discussions in January. "I made the comment at the ribbon cutting (Wednesday) that I want to know where the other four are."

The center should draw residents in the north part of town, Williams said, but there remains a dearth of service for those in the Enchanted Hills subdivision and residents in the west near Unser Boulevard.

Gene Gabaldon, president of the American Postal Workers Union Local 380, said the postal service expects to hire 13 part-time clerks by next month.

The postal service has hired 13 more letter carriers for the area, Gabaldon said. But it still needs additional clerks and mail processors, he added.

At the height of the controversy in January, the local customer service approval rating lingered around 83 percent for First Class, next-day delivery, Gabaldon said. That has since improved to 94 percent, he said.

The problem now rests with timely delivery of standard mail, which includes advertisements, catalogs and coupons, Gabaldon said.

"In concentrating on getting first class scores up, and more timely delivery. In order to do that, something has to be sacrificed and that's standard mail," he said.

"I think the customer deserves better even at this point," Gabaldon said. "It's improved, but it's not where it needs to be."

What: Workshop on how to use the U.S. Postal Service's Web site.

When: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.

Where: 2100 George Road S.E., near Albuquerque International Sunport.