J^RARTMENTQF 

IRANSPORWION 

CKETOPER/vriONS 

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m OCT ! 3 A S: M 

%0 Minnesota Department of Transportation 

Office of A«ronaut)cs 

Mail Stop 410 

222 East Plato Boulevard 

St. Paul. MN 56107-1618 

Ptione: 651/234-7200 

Fax: 651/234-7261 

August 4, 2010 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation 

400 Scventlt Street, S.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear iVlr. Secretary: 

The Minnesoto Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics is pleased to support the 

application of the St. Cloud Regional Airport for a grant under the Small Community Air Service 

Development Program. 

As of December 31, 2009, Mesaba Airlines discontinued scheduled air service at St. Cloud. The 

only air service remaining is occasional charters on Sun Country Airlines. An air service study 

that was part of the 2006 Minnesota Aviation System Plan found that only about 11% of air 

travelers from the St Cloud area were leaving from the St. Cloud Regional Airport. Nearly 90% 

of those travelers were driving to MSP for air service. All passengers flying from St. Cloud had 

to make coimections at MSP to any destination beyond MSP. Lack of direct service to another 

market (i.e., Chicago or Denver) has, in our opinion, contributed to the leakage seen at St. Cloud. 

Having to change airplanes at MSP, as opposed to direct nonstop service to another city/cities 

makes it less convenient to fly out of St. Cloud. 

Mesaba's departure from the market leaves St. Ck>ud virtually without scheduled air service. A 

study in 1996 found that more than 100,000 airline tickets were sold in the St. Cloud area, but 

that most of those passengers were driving to MSP, as discussed above. By any reasonable 

measure, the St. Cloud area is underserved. Growing highway congestion between St. Cloud and 

the Twin Cities makes service through MSP less convenient for St Cloud area residents who 

choose to drive the 70 miles to MSP. 

Mn/DOT's Office of Aeronautics fully supports St. Cloud's effort to get St. Cloud-Chicago 

service and the City's appHcation for a Small Community Air Service Development grant to 

assist in that endeavor. 

Siocerely, 

Christopher Roy r 

Director 

Mn/DOT Office of Aeronautics 

An equal opportunity employer 

St. Cloud Regional Airport - Small Community Air Service Development Gront - August 2010 24 
')EPARTMENT OF 

i RAMSPORWiON ^ 

:• € T OPER/VriONS 

I M OCT ! 3 A ^ O 2 

STkii-OUD 

St,etdadAiea 

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 

August 18.2010 

The Honorable Ray I.aHood 

Secretary, U.S. IXspartincin of Traasportaiioii 

400 Seventh Street, S.W. 

Washington DC. 20590 

Dear Mr. Secretary: 

The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce strongly supports the application of tlie St. 

Cloud Regional Airport for a grant under the Small Community Air Service DevelopmenI 

Program. 

On December 31,2009 regularly scheduled air service in St. Cloud was discontinued by 

Mesaba Airlines, Thcimpacttoour business commimity has been severe. Business 

travelers are left with no alternative to driving to MSP for air service. The inconvenience 

and added expense for this driving leg of travel is often cited as a major disadvantage for 

businesses in our community. It impacts profitability, wastes employee tinw and the 

opportunity costs arc high. 

The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce lias been involved in elYorts to enliance air 

service in our area for decades. We continue to strive for creative, innovative solutions 

for our business community members, given the critical point at wliich air service 

providers find themselves. 

Tlie Small Community Air Service Development Program would give us the needed 

boost to continue our eflbrts to serve our business communil) witli enhanced air service. 

The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce fully supports St. Cloud's effort to secure St. 

Cloud to Chicago service, and to secure this grant to assist in that endeavor. 

Sincerely, 

Teresa Reed Bohncn 

President 

St. Cloud Regional Airport - Small Community Air Service Development Grant - August 2010 23 
m\ 

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THE PARTNERSHIP 

August 11, 2010 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary <rf Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

400 7*" Street, S.W. 

Washington D.C. 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood, 

Thank you for considering the application of the St. Ctoud Regional Airport's Small 

Community Air Service Development Program. We are a metro area of 100,000 people 

and a reoton of 200.000 Plus yrith n^ ^hadule d air »ervlce. This grant will assist In 

funding our access to the mttkinal air transportation system in a region that had been 

undersenwd by Northwest/Delta and since December 31,2009 we no longer have 

service. 

In the past 10 years, through reductions by Northwest/Delta Airiines, St. Cloud had lost 

50% of its total available seats. As a result, feres had risen by 25%. which made air 

sen/k:e to and from SL Cloud a dlfflcutt sale. 

The St. Cloud Regional Aiiport has identified Chicago O'Hare as the most traveled to 

destination from central Minnesota. Our proposal is unique arid may be ttie first of its 

kind under the Small Commimity Air Servk» Development Program. We Intend to code 

share with a m^or carrier out of Chicago O'Hare with Investments from both the SCASD 

Program and with the support from k>cal business community. 

Access to competttivety priced, raHable and business frierKily air service is essential to 

this regk>n's economk: vitality and continued growth. The grant applicatton is a key and 

important part of making this servk» available. 

Tfienk you for your oofwkleration of our grant request, it is very much appreciated 

Sincerely, 

Thomas Moore, Prssidant 

St. CkMid Area Economk; Development Partnership 

MSatvkxSuppsft 

St. (teud AfM tuam k Dt«tl«piM<il PsrlntrtMp, IM . 

PO Bo» 1091 SI Cio.iD MNWm? I'tSt 

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St. Cloud Regional Airport - Small Community Air Service Development Grant - August 2010 22