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.. \.**~--** US.Departmentof 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Transportation Washington, DC 20590 Office oftheSecretary ofTransportation

The Honorable-James L. Brown >
. Mayor ofLongboat Key Longboat Key, FL 34228-3196
DearMayor Brown: 

### JUL 

## 52012

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Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted bythe Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (or a grant unde,r the U.S. DepartmeiJ.tofTransportation's Small Community Air Service DevelopmentProgram. · The Small Community Air 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 Oepartment 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 ofprojects that cari be funded.
OnMay 15, the Departmentissued an orderrequesting that communities interested in receiving a grant this year file their applications byJune 11. As these grant requests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment on the merits ofany particularproposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair consideration to allproposals that have been properly 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.

X1-120628-004 Sincerely yours,

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### l**~** AlohaLey 

# Q Associate Director

.Small Community Program

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# ......... TOWN OF 

# LONGBOAT KEY

IncorporatedNore;;zber 14. 1955

Ms. Aloha Ley Office ofAviation Analysis 1200 NewJerseyAve., SE, W86-310 Washington, DC 20590 Re: Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069 Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) Dear Ms. Ley: Town Hall 50I Bay Isles Road Longboat Key. Florida 34128-3196 (941) 316-1999" SUNCOM 516-2760 Fax (941) 316-1656 \nvw.longboatkey.org

I am writing as Mayor of the Town of Longboat Key, Florida to express our strohg ··support for the above referenced grant application to the Small Community Air ·service Development Program. The recent decision by Southwest Airlines to pull AirTran service from SRQ is a major blow to the air service and economic competitiveness ofthe entire region served by Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. AirTran accounted for over 360,000 passengers or nearly 30% ofall passengertraffic at SRQ in 2011. Sarasota Bradenton also suffers from a lack of access to a westbound airline

·gateway. ·This forces local consumers ·to drive to other airports, thereby

inflicting economic damage on the local economy
.. A 1997 Economic Impact Study completed as part of the SRQ Master Plan Update revealed that 57% of all enplanements at SRQ were out of area visitors spending an average of $665.00 per visit. Using the CY 2011.AirTran passenger traffic this equates to 102,600 visitors to the SRQ area. When combined with the 100,000 passengers lost due to no westbound service this equates to a loss ofover $105,000,000 of direct visitor expenditures annually. When the multiplier effect is factored in it equates to a loss of nearly $285,000,000 ofeconomic impact and 2,600 jobs to the area. The community is partnering with the airport to match the grant funds dollarfor dollar on this critical matter. We ask the Department consider the serious negative effects the recent approval provided to Southwest Airlines to acquire AirTran Airways has had on our community and approve the application for assistance. Thank you for your consideration. Sine rely,

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### L. Brown

The Honorable Ray H. LaHood Secretary ofTransportation United States Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, DC 20590