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US.Department of "" :^Fi'0?ERA>1I0'^3 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary --M • rp ? q O /: 33 

ofTronsportofion ' ' -' " 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

SEP 2 1 20)1 The Honorable Joseph A. Petrarca 

Pennsylvania House of Representatives 

Harrisburg, PA 17120-2055 

Dear Mr. Petrarca: 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Westmoreland County 

Airport Authority for a grant under the Small Community Air Service Development 

Program (Small Community Program). 

The Small Community 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 commimities 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 further information or assistance, please feel 

free to call me. 

Sincerely yours, 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Program 
\ 

JOSEPH A. PETRARCA 

220 IRVIS OFFICE BUILDING 

P.O. BOX 202055 

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 17120-2055 

PHONE: (717)787-6142 • FAX: (717)705-2014 

239 LONGFELLOW STREET 

VANDERGRIFT, PENNSYLVANIA 15690 

PHONE: (724) 567-6982 • FAX: (724) 567-0006 

COMMITTEES 

AGRICULTURE & RURAL AFFAIRS, 

DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN 

POLICY 

APPOINTMENTS 

GDC 

.1 

ORGAN DONATION ADVISORY BOARD 

MEMBER 

620 NORTH CHESTNUT STREET 

DERRY, PENNSYLVANIA 15627 

PHONE: (724) 694-5298 • FAX: (724) 694-8753 

LATROBE MUNICIPAL BUILDING 

901 JEFFERSON STREET 

LATROBE, PENNSYLVANIA 15650 

PHONE: (724) 539-7560 • FAX: (724) 539-1081 

Puug^ of ^prcsentaltes 

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA 

HARRISBURG 

July 18, 2011 

SOUTHWEST CAUCUS 

NORTHWEST CAUCUS 

SPORTSMEN'S CAUCUS 

FIREFIGHTERS CAUCUS 

SUBSTANCE ABUSE CAUCUS 

COAL CAUCUS 

RURAL CAUCUS 

STEEL CAUCUS 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Air Service Development Program, X-55 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear Ms. Ley: 

I am writing this letter in support of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority's request for 

funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service 

Development program to expand the scheduled air service that has shown phenomenal promise 

at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. 

The authority has seen dramatic success with the launch of Spirit Airlines service to Fort 

Lauderdale, FL, and Myrtle Beach, SC, moving more than 30,000 passengers through Arnold 

Palmer Regional in less than five months. Load factors have proven unprecedented at the 

airport, averaging in the high 80% and mid 90% ranges. The airline is now considering 

additional destinations to augment this thriving operation, and asks only for assistance in 

marketing the new routes. 

These efforts are heavily dependent upon the marketing that has proven successful for the 

airline. Grant funding through the SCASD program is critical to supporting these efforts to 

expand service and bolstering a priceless economic asset to the communities the airport serves. 

Your consideration and favorable review of this application would be greatly appreciated. 

Should you wish to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Sincerely, 

Jojfeph A. Petrarca, Member 

Pennsylvania House of Representatives 

JAP/br 

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