### U.S. Department of Transportation 

### Office ofthe Secretary OfTransportation



## The Hon·orable Michael F. Bennet United States Senate Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Bennet: 

# JUL 

# 6 2012**~. -~** ......

1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E. Washington, DC .20590



## Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Telluride Airport for a grant underthe:U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development: Program.

The Small Community Air Service Development Program was established to help smaller communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares or insufficient service. Underthe statute, the Department may make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 awards may be to communities in the same State. In orderto provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types ofprojects that canbe**funded~** 

## On May 15, the Department issued an orderrequesting that communities interested in receiving a grant this year file their applications by June 11. As these grant requests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment on the merits ofany particularproposal. I assure you that the Departmentwill give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have beenproperly filed.

As is our normal practice, I 

## am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program.

Sincerely yours,



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## Aloha Ley Associate Director Small Community Program

### MICHAEl F. BENNET COLORADO WASHINGTON, DC: 458 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE SUILDIN< WASHINGTON, DC 20510 COMMITTEES: 

# ii.nlttd**~tatrs ~matr**  c'< ·**.:~ ~'/~**  (202) 224-5852 AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY BANKING, HOUSING, AND COLORADO:·

URBAN AFFAIRS HEALTH, EDUCATION, tABOR. 

### WASHINGTON, DC 20510·0609 1127 SHERMAN STREET SUITE 150 DENVER, CO 80203

(303) 455-7600 AND PENSIONS http://www.bennet.senate.gov SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING

Aloha Ley Associate Director US Department ofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Avenue SE gth Floor Room W86-310 Washington, D.C. 20590 June 8, 2012

RE: TeHuride Airport's (DUNS# 

### 180571739) application for the Small CommunityAirService Development Grant

Dear Aloha:

I am pleased to support Telluride Airport's application for the Small CommunityAir Service Development grant from the U.S. Department ofTransportation. Ifapproved, funds will be used to secure an additional non-stop route to Telluride.
Specifically this grant will allow a carrier with Q400 aircraft to add service toTelluride from a second non-stop destination, otherthan Denver, and help Telluride climb closer to the25,000 enplanements the airport saw in the 1990's. The airport has identified a carrier forthis service making these grantfunds critical to asuccessful launch ofthis service in the first year ortwo, allowing time forthe market flight to mature to asustainable performance level. 

# '
While Telluride is a heavily tourism dependent destination where additional air service is needed and would be very welcome, the new air service would help make it possible for those looking to do so. In today's global economy, world access to the national and international transportation system is critical to a region's economic health and ability to diversify its economy.

I encourage you to give Telluride Airport's application every appropriate consideration consistent with all applicable laws and regulations. Thank you for your consideration, and please notify my office ofany funds awarded.
Sincerely,

Michael F. Bennet United States Senator r·