U.S. Department of 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Mike Simpson 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congressman Simpson: 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the proposal 

submitted by the Boise Airport and the Friedman Memorial Airport (Sun Valley) 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 of this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this program. An identical letter has been sent to each of your congressional colleagues. 

Sincerely yours, 

*~ Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Program 

I 

. ~ 

I 
U.S. Department of 

. Transportation 

Office of the Secretory 

of Transportation 

The Honorable James E. Risch 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Risch: 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 · 

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the proposal 

submitted by the Boise Airport and the Friedman Memorial Airport (Sun Valley) 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 of this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this program. An identical letter has been sent to each of your congressional colleagues. 

Sincerely yours, 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

· Small Community Program 

I 

I 

I 

I 
u.s. Department of 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Mike Crapo 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Crapo: 

JUL 5 2012 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the proposal 

submitted by the Boise Airport and the Friedman Memorial Airport (Sun Valley) 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. An identical letter has been sent to each of your congressional colleagues. 

Sincerely yours, 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Program 
Mike Crapo 

United States Senator 

239 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. 

Washington, D.C. 20510 · 

James E. Risch 

Unite States Senator 

483 Russell Senate Office Bldg. 

Washington, D.C. 20510 

Ms. Aloha Ley 

June 4, 2012 

Associate Director, Small Community Program 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington DC 20590 

Dear Ms. Ley: 

Mike Simpson 

Member of Congress 

2312 Rayburn House Office Bldg. 

Washington, D.C. 20515 

We write in support for the joint grant application submitted by the Boise Airport and the 

Friedman Memorial Airport (Sun Valley) to the US Department of Transportation for funding 

under its Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASD). 

It is our understanding that these airports and communities have been disproportionately 

affect~d by recent·changes in the aviation industry and the present economic downturn, •. 

resulting in a near 20% decrease in airline seat capacity in these markets and an equally 

dramatic increase in the average air fare. This joint proposal seeks to take aggressive action to 

reverse the current trend in a way that is sustainable by improving hub connectivity and linking 

both communities. 

Approval of this proposal will provide the funds to cover station startup costs for the service 

connecting the two communities, provide a financial incentive to a carrier that improves access 

to the national transportation system by adding a new hub, and leverage the communities' 

investment in marketing the new service. This effort will fill a demonstrated need for greater 

seat capacity, improved connectivity and increased travel options. 

We urge the Department of Transportation to give this application all due consideration. 

i0;LOr- d&~ Mike Crapo 

United States Senator 

~~ 

James E. Risch 

United States Senator 

Mike Simpson 

Member of Congress