Inbound to every Robbinsville mailbox is a survey asking them if the postal zip code 08691 should be designated to Robbinsville, officially.
ROBBINSVILLE -- The U.S. Postal Service is sending a piece of mail to every township residence that could affect they way send mail to every township residence in the future.
Inbound to every Robbinsville mailbox is a survey asking them if the postal zip code 08691 should be designated to Robbinsville, officially.
File photo It's the latest in a years-long effort for the township - which changed its name from Washington Township in 2008 - to create its own identity.
Now, it's time for residents to step up, elected leaders say.
"This is by no means a done deal," Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried said. "Our residents must respond to the survey in order for this measure to be considered any further."
Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo, (D-Mercer), a supporter, said: "Residents have expressed their desire to put Robbinsville on the map with a unified zip code for years."
"Now is the time for our town to come together to let their voice be heard by the postal service and say 'yes' to a single zip code for all of Robbinsville," the assemblymen said in a statement.
Robbinsville officials say for the effort to move forwward, 80 percent of residents must reply, and 75 percent of respondents must be in favor of it.
The survey must be completed and returned to the postal service by June 10, 2016.
Township officials say nothing prevents a resident from using the return address of "Robbinsville, NJ, 08691" on letters, and many do.
The issue is for mail incoming to Robbinsville, officials have said.
The postal service recognizes 08691 as Trenton.
On the service's website, Hamilton and Robbinsville are listed as other recognized city names, but it advises users to use Trenton "whenever possible."
Town officials say more than identity, it would change things like online mail order systems, which can default to Trenton when 08691 is entered, as well as GPS systems.
And, town officials have said, some of the 14,000 residents are served by up to five zip codes, some belonging to Trenton, and some associated with Hamilton or Hightstown.
And the town of Windsor, NJ, which is in Robbinsville, has its own zip code, 08561.
Fried first wrote to the postal service in 2013 requesting the town get its own five-digit zip code, and the postal service said it would review the request.
DeAngelo jumped on board in June 2014, sending a letter to the postal service, also arguing that Robbinsville deserved it's own code.
In March of 2015, without a response, DeAngelo wrote back. The postal service responded with a denial, saying zip codes support mail delivery options, not necessarily perceived municipal or community boundaries.
A few months later last year, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker weighed in, writing a letter to the U.S. Postmaster General supporting a new zip code for the town.
U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, (R-4th), represents the town and is a resident. He also supports the request.
"The confusion and problems that often result for people when their hometown has multiple postal identities has led to this opportunity for residents to be heard by participating in the U.S. Postal Service survey," Smith said on a Friday statement.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.