U.S. Department of 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

Of Transportation 

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 

under the: U.S. Department of Transportation'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. Under the statute, the Department may make a maximum of 40 grant 

awards each year, although no more than 4 awards 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 flexibility in the types of projects that can be funded~ 

On May 15, the Department issued an order requesting 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 of any particular proposal. I assure you that the 

Department will give full and fair 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-2012-0069 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this program. 

Sincerely yours, 

- --~ (; v~~_t). ut \ ~ I \J~ v \: ~--

1 ~ 

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 of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

gth Floor Room W86-310 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

June 8, 2012 

RE: TeHuride Airport's (DUNS# 180571739) application for the Small Community Air Service Development Grant 

Dear Aloha: 

I am pleased to support Telluride Airport's application for the Small Community Air Service Development grant 

from the U.S. Department of Transportation. If approved, 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 to Telluride from a second non-stop 

destination, other than Denver, and help Telluride climb closer to the 25,000 enplanements the airport saw in the 

1990's. The airport has identified a carrier for this service making these grant funds critical to a successful launch 

of this service in the first year or two, allowing time for the market flight to mature to a sustainable 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 of any funds 

awarded. 

Sincerely, 

Michael F. Bennet 

United States Senator 

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