After making little progress with United States Postal Service officials, Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) has decided to go straight to the top.

Last week, Domenici sent a letter to USPS Postmaster General John Potter requesting a meeting on additional post office locations in Rio Rancho.

"I am aware of the growing frustration among Rio Rancho residents with the slow pace of (service provided) by the single post office readily available to them," Domenici said. "Clearly, the city's growth is outpacing the ability of the post office to serve the people, and I want the Postal Service to fix the problem." With that letter, Domenici adds his efforts to that of his fellow federal lawmakers. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.), and Rep. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) previously sent a letter to USPS seeking another post office.

Domenici, a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees the Postal Service, criticized arguments that West Side postal stations can serve Rio Rancho.

"Because of the rapid increase in population that both cities have undergone, a simple trip to or from Rio Rancho to Albuquerque could take up to 45 minutes," Domenici said in his letter to Potter. "I hope you would agree that a 45-minute trip to the post office for a city the size of Rio Rancho is absolutely unacceptable."

Rio Rancho's population is nearing 70,000 people.

Rio Rancho Mayor Jim Owen has long fought for another post office, and the Sandoval County commission joined the effort with a resolution last month.

The collaborative work could help expedite the process.

"We're hoping to draw attention to the problem and hopefully get a new post office approved for the city," said Domenici's spokesman, Matt Letourneau.