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U.S. Department of lonnM i 

TtanSDOrtation ^ , ^^"^ •'®"*y Avenue, SE 

irampononon Woshington, DC 20590 

Office Of the Secrefary " 

of Transportation 

SEP 2 0 2011 

The Honorable Michael F. Bennet 

United States Senate d 

Washington, DC 20510 ^^ 

Dear Senator Bennet: i^ 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Telluride Regional LU 

Airport for a grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Program 

(Small Community Program). 

The Small Community Program was established to help smaller communities address air 

service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares and insufficient service. 

Under the statute, the Department may use the funds to make a maximum of 40 grant 

awards each year, although no more than four may be to communities in the same State. 

In order to provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service 

deficiencies, the statute provides significant flexibility in how the financial assistance 

may be used. 

On July 1, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in 

receiving a grant this year file their applications by August 2. As these grant requests are 

pending before the Department, I am sure you understand that I cannot comment on the 

merits of any particular proposal. I assure you, however, that the Department will give 

full consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2011-0119 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your 

interest in this program. If I can provide further information or assistance, please feel 

free to call me. 

Sincerely yours. 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Program 
T 

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Hinted Sorrs BtiuU 

= ^;:,1UM' 

August 9, 201 i 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Smail Community Program 

1200 New Jersey Avenue S£ 

Washtf^on, D.C. 205«) 

1^: The TMurkto l^^naT Mrporf s Appiieation (DUNS »180571739) for a Snudt Cmmnunity 

Air Service I^mlqpnMnt Pilot Pr^ram Grant 

Dear IWs. Ley: 

I am pleased to support an application recently sutunitted tty the Telluride Regional Airport for 

the Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Prc^ram Grant. If approved, this grant will 

go towards gaining a second summer air service carrier and expanding seat capacity to help 

sustain over 10,000 enpianements. Obtaining the grant will help Telluride better meet 

passenger air traveler demand and help pressure a reduction of airfares from one of the highest 

costing airports in the country. 

The Telluride Airport helps facilitate over $140 Million Dollars in economic activity for the 

Telluride region, and for a highly tourism based economy improving air service is critical to 

economic growth and success. In addition to aiding tourism, increased air service could also help 

to diversify the economy in Telluride by providing needed air access to otiier business industries. 

Telluride will be providing matching funds for this grant. Most importantly, Telluride has vwm a 

previous grant almost 10 years ago back in 2002 that successfully started winter air servi<^ on 

USAirways from Phoenix to Telluride that continues today. 

This grant is supported by the Telluride Montrose Regional Air Organization, the towns of 

Telluride, Mountain Villas and the City of Montrose, as well as the Telluride Ski Resort, among 

over 75 other community organizations. The Telluride Community has a proven track record of 

success and needs some start-up assistance to continue their air service development efforts. 
^km 

I encourage you to give the gram application submitted by the TeHuride Regional Wrport every 

appropriate consideration consistent with aJi appHcaWe laws and regulations. Thank you for 

your attention, and please notify my office of funds awarded. 

Sincerely, 

Michael F. Bennet 

United States Senator