U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary OfTransportation
The Honorable Mike Crapo United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Crapo: 

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### JUL 

### 6

## 2012 

# ·. 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E. Washington, DC 20590

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by Senator Risch, supportingthe proposal submittedby the City ofTwin Falls for a grant underthe U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. ' 

# ... The Small Community Air Service Development Program was establishedto 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 than4 awards may be to communities inthe same State. In orderto provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types ofprojects that can be funded. On May 15, the Department issued an o.rder req1,1esting that**~ommunit~es** interested in receiving a grant this yearfile their applications by June 11. As these grant requests are pendingbeforethe Department, I cannot comment onthe merits ofany particularproposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair considerationto all proposals that have beenproperly filed. 'As is ournormal practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this resp<mse**in~Docket** DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program. An identical letterhas been sent to Senator Risch. Sincerely yours, 

# Atutvl2o

AlohaLey Associate Director Small Community Program... .··-"'· U.S. Department of Transportation Office ofthe Secretary OfTransportation

The Honorable James E. Risch United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Risch: 

## JUL 6

## 2012 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E. Washington, DC 20590

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by Senator Crapo, supportingthe proposal submitted by the City ofTwin Falls for a grant underthe U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program.**~.** ; The Small CommunityAir Service Development Program was established to help smaller communities address air service defiCiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares or insufficient service. Underthe**statute~** the Departmentmay make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 awards may be tocommunities inthe same State. In order to provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility inthe types ofprojects that can be funded. On,May 15, the

### Departm~nt issued an orderrequesting that

### communitie~ interested in receiving a grant this year file their applications by June 11. As these grant requests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment on the merits ofany particularproposal. I assure youthat the Department will give full and fair considerationto all proposals that have beenproperly filed. As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program. An identical letter has been sent to Senator Crapo. Sincerely yours,

Aloha Ley Associate Director Small Community Program.\like Crapo t'niletl St:.lcs Senator**~39** DirJ.;scn Senate Ofrio:c l!uiluinl,! \Vashin[!tnn. D.C.**~0510**

Aloha Ley May 31, 2012

Associate Director, Small Community Program Office ofAviation Analysis US Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE W86-310 Washington, DC 20590 DearMs. Ley: .lames E. Risd1 l'nitcll States Scrmtor ..JXJ Russell Scnalc ()fticc lluilding \\'a:;hingtl>rL D.C. :!051 0

,...._.

We write in support ofthe City ofTwin Falls Small Community Air Service Development Program grant application toobtain additional cap.<:tcity to.Salt Lake City. Many businesses in the Magic Valley of Idaho depend on air service to major transportation hubs, like Salt Lake City, to be able to compete, grow and prosper in today's economy. For many years, Twin Falls supported four to six roundtrips to Salt Lake City. In September 2011, SkyWestAirlines reduced service to three roundtrips as a result ofthe continued impact ofthe recession and high fuel prices. We understand that the community will demonstrate through this grant that it can support additional service through another roundtrip or a regional jet upgrade. This expanded air service is critically important for the future growth and development of the Twin Falls community. We urge the Office ofAviation Analysis to give this application all due consideration.

/./ ''

Mike Crapo United States Senator Sincerely,


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James E. Risch United States Senator