# THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, DC 20590



# The Honorable JosephMaturo, Jr. MayorofEastHaven 250Main Street EastHaven, CT 06512 DearMayorMaturo: September 19,2014 ' 

## ' ·? l \

..**~-** i



# Thankyou for your letter supportingthe application submittedby the Tweed-NewHavenAirport Authority for agrant underthe U.S. Department ofTransportation•s Small Community Air Service DevelopmentProgram. The Small Community

# AirService DevelopmentProgramwas established to help smaller communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares and insufficient service. Under the statute, theDepartmentmay make amaximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than four may beto communities in the same State. To provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statuteprovides flexibility in the types ofair service development projects that can be funded. On June 30, the Department issued an order setting adeadline ofJuly 31 for applications. As 

# these grant requests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment onthe merits ofany particularproposal. Iassure you, however, that theDepartmentwill give full and fair consideration to all proposals thathave been properly filed. As is our standard practice, I am placing acopy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2014-0113 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program.

Anthony R. Foxx

### Letter of Support: East Haven MayorJoseph MaturoJr.

The HonorableAnthony Foxx Secretary U.S. Department ofTransportation 

### 1200 NewJersey Ave. SE Washington, 

### DC 20590 July 31,2014

REFERENCE: Small Community

### Air Service Development Program DOCKET NUMBER; DOT -OST-2014-0113 DUNS: 

### 800203864 DearSecretary Foxx, 

### I am writing in support of the application by the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority 

### for funding underthe Small CommunityAir Servica Development Program. Southam Connecticut continues to grow and emerge from the Recassion with a stronger economic base. This 

### trend, however, is at risk due 

## to a severe lack 

### of alternative transportation options along the Northeast Corridor. In ourarea, high levels 

### of congestion on Interstate 

### 95 and the limited service schedule for intertity Amtrak servica inhibit vehicular traffic. Accass to airports in other cities often add an 'extra leg' 

### to business trips 

### which is expensive and time consumingforfarge and small businesses. · Tweed-New Haven RElljional Airport is 

## a valuable economic asset 

### to this region. 

### Both the State 

### of Connecticut and the City of New Haven have invested over 

### $10 million dollars in operating Tweed over the past decade. Coupled with the support of FAA entitlement funding, Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport 

### has utilized this financial support to make significant facility improvements as well as actively seek out new aitline partnera. However, due 

### to the minimal revenue provided 

### by the airport's current air carrier, Tweed has limited funds to offer marketing incentives to prospective carriers 

### to promote newairservice. The Federal Aviation Administration has identified Tweed New Haven RElljional Airport as one of eleven integral service providers in the New England Region. This funding will allow the Tweed-New Haven Regional AirportAuthority to support an upgrade of non-s1op service to Philadelphia. These flights would provide our region with increased national connectivity via Philadelphia. In conjunction with local share commitments, this grant will assist in building awareness within the community 

### of the many travel options 

### which Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport can provide.



### Tweed New 

### Haven Airport Authority 

# I SCASDP Grant Proposal DOT-OST

### -2014-0113As you may or may not 

### be aware, Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport was and continues 

## to be an issue of critical Importance 

### to neighbors who live around the airporl 

### Of utmost importance

### to me isto continue

## to balancetheirquality-of-life concerns with the interests 

### of making Tweed economically self-sufficient and more successful. 

### I do not berieve Tweed's application under this program 

### will significantly lower the quality for neighbors surrounding the airport. 

### I want to stressthat 

### I believe the continued developmentofTweed-New Haven Regional Airport's commercial air service 

### will 

### be an integral piece 

### of the region's future economic health and vitality. I believe that ycu will find thatthe Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport Authority has provided a strong application and 1 hope that you will give 

### their request every possible consideration. 

### I appreciate yourtime and consideration 

### of my comments.


# £: eph Maturo, Jr. 1\hayor 

### l/

Tweed New Haven Airport Authority 

# I SCASDP Grant Proposal DOT-OST-2014-0113