Q 

ULS.Depcvtmentof 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

"SPORTATIOf! 

>q D J -} 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

The Honorable Rand Paul, M.D. 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Paul: 

SEP 2 1 2011 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the City of Pikeville for a 

grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Program (Small Community 

Program). 

The Small Commimity 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 fiirther information or assistance, please feel 

fi-ee to call me. 

Sincerely yours. 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Program 
RAND P^t)L 

"KENTUCKY 

lanited States Senate 

WASHINGTON, DC 20510 

August 23, 2011 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

Ms. Aloha Ley 

Associate Director, Small Community Program 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

W86-310 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear Ms. Ley: 

I am contacting you on behalf of my constituent, the City of Pikeville, Kentucky, in regards to 

their proposal for the Small Community Air Service Development grant. 

Our nation is faced with many financial challenges as our debt continues to escalate and it is 

essential that we in Congress, along with the Federal Agencies, work closely to ensure that every tax 

dollar is spent effectively. 1 believe, however, that this application from the City of Pikeville deserves 

full and fair consideration despite our country's financial obstacles. 

The Pikeville-Pike County Regional Airport (PBX) services a 13 county region of 345,000 

people in Eastern Kentucky, Western Virginia, and Southwestern West Virginia and the nearest 

commercial airport is more than 100 miles away. The Small Community Air Service Development 

grant will substantially benefit the City of Pikeville in efforts to recruit a regional airline to provide 

service to a major connecting hub. Thousands of new jobs will be created with the introduction of a 

scheduled passenger airline service to an area surrounded by opportunity for economic, industrial, and 

business growth. 

Thank you for your time and consideration in review of this request. 

Sincerely, 

Rand Paul, M.D. . • 

United States Senator