## ZD IIIUL 19 P MIZ:Z' ' CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD TIMOTHY J MCCARTHY SOAVE ENTERPRISES TPANSPORTATON GROUP
VICE CHAIRPERSONS PATRICIA E. MOORADIAN THE HENRY FORD
ROBERT RINEY HENRI FOP) HEALTH SYSTEM 

### The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 

### The Honorable Lisa Jackson Administrator 0FC: 01: 

### THE Environmental Protection 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20004

TREASURER VICTOR MARIT: BEST \IVESTERN ERLING INN BANQUET & C' YNCE CENTER



### visitdetrc, it .com

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE JOHN K. BLANCHARD GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY BLAIR BOWMAN SUBURBAN COLLECTION SHOWPLACE THOM CONNORS COBO CENTER BOB FARMERY DETROIT MARRIOTT AT THE RENAISSANCE CENTER SAUL A GREEN Cliv OF DETROIT JOHN HERTEL SMART TRANSPORTATiON DONNAM INCH FORD MOTOR LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CHRISTINA LOVIO-GEORGE LOVIOGEORGE'I LC KEVIN MOORE ENEEPPRISE HOLDINGS, INC GARY TORGOW STERLING GROUP ANDREW ZARRAS DELTA AlP UIES. TIC

PRESIDENT & CEO LARRY 0. ALC<ANDER 

### Dear Secretary LaHood and Administrator Jackson:
The Directors, staff and members of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau are keenly aware that our own jobs and those of thousands of others in this region are impacted by tourism travel into our region - most of which is by automobile. Making automobile travel generally more expensive by mandating unrealistic fuel economy standards for the auto manufacturing industry will negatively impact the Detroit region's recovery in myriad ways - not least by tightening inbound tourism into our region. As your agencies develop national fuel economy standards for 20 17-2025, 1 hope I may add my voice to those encouraging standards that correspond to technological reality and consumer demand. Our future depends on such. We encourage NHTSA and EPA to adopt a single, national fuel economy standard that considers America's needs for increased fuel economy while preserving the choices for families and businesses to meet their transportation needs without sacrificing affordability, safety, or jobs. NIHTSA and EPA have already set strong standards for 2012-2016 that raise the fleet average by 40% to 35 

### miles per gallon. Looking forward, technology improvements should continue to support increases in fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards. However, we believe that overreaching regulations can place a significant cost burden on individuals, families and businesses here in Detroit. It is important that standards for 20 17-2025 support a broad range of consumer needs in terms of utility and function. Americans need a range of vehicles to meet their family and business needs. Large families require automobiles with sufficient passenger space, including room for multiple child-safety seats in the back. Small businesses need vans and utility vehicles to conduct commerce. Agriculture depends on pickup, as do the construction industry and local trades. And, as I noted above, tourism is heavily automobile dependent. Indeed, it was nearly a century ago that the American Automobile Clubs were founded specifically to encourage automobile tourism. It was big business even then.

SATELLITE OFFICE LANSINGOFFICE@ VISITD E TROIF COM
517,318.7023 F: 313.202,1809

CONVENTION & VISITORS SUREAU HEADQUARTERS 211 W. FORT ST. SUITE 1000 DETROIT MI 48226
313.202.1800 F 313.202 808 SATELLITE OFFICE WASHINGTONDCOFFICEVISITDETROI1.COM



### 1 703 469.1 784 F. 31 3.202 1813

### Detroit-region businesses all share the need for affordable transportation. The next phase should support a variety of technologies and fuel diversity to preserve affordability. If fuel economy standards increase too quickly, resulting in more expensive vehicles, many of our region's consumers can be expected to hold on to their older vehicles longer and defer buying a new car, which could put jobs across the country at risk and many potential travelers will minimize trips to make up for higher transportation costs. Hotels, restaurants, museums, parks, theaters - all will be negatively affected. We encourage you to carefully balance the factors that impact sensible fuel economy standards, including consumer choice, affordability and the economic concerns that weigh on our nation's fragile recovery.vt&itöetroit.com 

### The Honorable Lisa Jackson Administrator Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20004

DETROIT METRO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 211 W. FORT ST. / SUITE 1000 / DETROIT, MI 48226