THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON DC 20590 

The Honorable Richard J. Durbin 

United States Senate 

. \V ashington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Durbin: 

July 17, 2012 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the University of Illinois' Willard 

1\irport for a grant under the U.S. Department of Transportation's SmaH Community Air Service 

Development Program. 

The SmaJI 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 of40 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 tv!ay 15, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in receiving a 

grant this year file their applications by June ll. As these grant requests are pending before the 

Department~ lcannot 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 nonnal practice, I am placing a c of your letter and this res pons · Docket 

DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact · · t record of this matter. I app e your interest in 

this program. 
1-:ICHARD J DURBIN 

United tStatrs ;brnatr 

TUaslnngron. Bll 20ilo-no·r 

Secretary Ray LaHood 

U.S; DepartmentofTransporation 

1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DG2059o~ooo 1 

Dear· se·cretary LaHood: 

June I 4, 2012 

COiVl~,'liTTGE ON THE .JUDICIMlV 

COiv11V11TTEE ON RULES 

.4ND AOMIN!STFlA TION 

I am writing to express my suppott of the grant application submitted by the University of 

Illinois' Willard Airport to the U.S. Deprutment of Transportation for the Small Community Air 

Service Development Program. The proposal is to support non-stop service between ChampaignUrbana and Washington Dulles. · 

Access to commercial air transpmtation is a key ingredient in building a strong and vibrant 

east central Illinois economy and is a high priority for local development efforts as well as those of 

the University of Illinois. 

Over the last ten years the University of Illinois Research Park has created over 1200 

technology related jobs and is a research facility for many top companies including Yahoo, 

Caterpillar, John Deere, Sony, and State Farm to name a few. Access to robust commercial air 

services is critical to the future success ofthese efforts and the companies they host. 

According to a recent study by the Illinois Department of Transportation, Willard Airport 

produced a total economic impact of nearly $60 million; this grant investment will ensure that 

Willard Airport continues to help the university and local communities to thrive. 

The University of IIlinois' research projects involve hundreds of million dollru·s of federal 

money. A direct flight to the Washington area can be developed and sustained by all who would use 

this service including the University of Illinois, federal agencies, local businesses, and international 

travelers. 

I urge you to give this application the most serious consideration. Thank you for your 

attention to this matter. 

RJD/kbf 

7111!•\iH ::!ENt\T( OH!Cf GUILOIUG 

V/!~SHINGTON. OC 20510-DiH 

.t1"R2l*fi•ij•lftl 

Sincerely, 

Richard 

~~~~ J. Durbin 

United States Senator 

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