The $10.4 million investment includes the leasing and retrofitting of an existing building near Times Square to serve DHL customers throughout New York's Upper West Side and Midtown business district. DHL has one of the largest foot-courier networks of any major US express delivery company operating in the city; its network is comprised of three facilities serving Manhattan from the Financial District, Murray Hill on the East Side and Times Square on the West Side. "By dispatching our foot-couriers from our new location on New York's West Side, DHL is able to operate closer to the highest density areas - in this case to best serve our Midtown and Upper West Side customers for delivery of letters and small-packages earlier in the morning," said Mark Munoz, senior vice president of area operations. Approximately 65% of DHL's delivery volume within Manhattan is handled by foot-couriers. The company said its foot couriers can usually reach businesses in Manhattan more quickly than vehicle bound couriers by using "ice cream" style push carts that can carry a large collection of letters and small packages DHL's new facility will handle letters and small packages and initially employ 120 DHL employees when fully operational in May of 2006.