* ^ 

810-091021-016 

& 

US-Departimntor 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

Assistant Secretary 

DEC 2 9 2009 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

The Honorable Barbara Boxer 

United Slates Senate 

Washington. DC 20510 

Dear Senator Boxer: 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the San Luis Obispo 

County Regional Airport for a grant under the Small Community Air Service 

Development Program (Small Community Program). I am responding on behalf of 

Secretary LaHood. 

The Small Community Program was established to help smaller communities address air 

service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares and insufficient service. 

Congress appropriated $8 million for grant awards under this program in 

Fiscal Year 2009. Under the statute, the U.S. Department of Transportation may use the 

funds to make a maximum of 40 grant awards each year-, although no more than four may 

be to communities in the same State. In order to provide communities with latitude in 

developing solutions to their air service problems, the statute provides significant 

flexibility in how the financial assistance may be used. 

On July 10, the Department issued an order requesting that contununities interested in 

receiving a grant this year file their applications by August 28. As these grant requests 

are pending before the Department. 1 am sure you understand that 1 cannot comment on 

the merits of any particular proposal. I assure you. however, that the Department will 

give full consideration to this proposal and all proposals that have been filed. 

As is our normal practice. I am placing a copy of your letter and tliis response in Docket 

OST-2009-0149 as a contact outside the record of tliis matter. I appreciate your interest 

in this program. 

Sincerely yours. 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
BARBARA BOXER 

CALIFOHNIA 

S10-09102 

lanitcd States Senate 

HART SENATF. OFFICE BUILDING 

SUITE 112 

WASHINGTON. DC 20510-0505 

(202) 224-3553 

littp://boxcr.senatc.gov/contact 

COMMERCE. SCIENCE 

ANDTRANSPORrAFION 

ENVIRONMENT 

AND PUBLIC WORKS 

FOREIGN RELATIONS 

October 14,2009 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

I am writing to express my support for the grant application submitted by the San Luis 

Obispo County Regional Airport to the Department of Transportation's Small Community Air 

Service Development Grant Program in the amount of $500,000. Along with a local contribution 

of $250,000, the grant total will be $750,000. If awarded, this grant would be used to enhance 

air service in the San Luis Obispo community. 

San Luis Obispo (SLO) is located along the Central Coast of California. The SLO 

County Regional Airport is vital to the economy of the region, as it is the only local connection 

to the air transportation system. Given its location on the Central Coast, it is important that air 

service is available locally to avoid the lengthy commutes to airports of a size which offer 

competitive service and pricing. A recent air services survey in the San Luis Obispo community 

found that several destinations, including Sacramento, Seattle, Denver, Portland, and Salt Lake 

City are highly desirable on the Central Coast. In addition, a significant number of SLO-based 

businesses and institutions have co-located facilities in one of more of these cities, emphasizing 

the need for additional services. 

Due to the San Luis Obispo community's need for additional air service to one or more of 

the above-mentioned destinations, 1 support this grant application. I have also attached letters 

from Congresswoman Lois Capps and State Assemblyman Sam Blakeslec who both support this 

grant application. 

In advance, I thank you for your attention to this matter. Should you or your staff have 

questions regarding this letter, please contact my Special Projects Director, Hilary Pearson, at 

(415)403-0107. 

incerely, 

Barbara Boxer/ 

United States Senator 

1/00 MON rOOMERY STREET 

SUITE 210 

SANTRANCISCO CA 94111 

(41S)40:t-0l00 

;)li! NORTH SPRING STREET 

SUITE r/.is 

l.OS ANC.Kl.ES. CA '.10012 

12 n i M')4-.S00O 

SOI r STREET 

SUITE / bOO 

SACRAMENTO. CA 9S.S14 

l'll(i) 44.4-2787 

2S00 TULARE STREET 

SUITE S2'J0 

IRESNO. CA ".1721 

l.')')'))497-rjl0'> 

(lOO B STREET 

SUITE 2240 

SAN DIEGO. CA 42101 

161')) 239-HSS4 

201 NORTH F STREET 

SUITE 210 

SAN BERNARDINO. CA 92401 

(lO'll .SSS-S.'>2.S 

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER 
S10-09102 

lOIS CAPPS 

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.Augudt 20, 2009 

Honorable Ray LaHood 

Unilo] Stales Departmait of Transportation 

1200 Ntw Jersey Ave SE 

Washington, D.C. 

Dear Secrcliuy La tlood; 

I ani writing in cnthusiaslie support of ihe request of the San Liii.'s Ohispu County 

Regional Airport lor fiscal year 2009 Small Coinmunily Air Service Development 

Program grant. The giant request amount is SSOO.OOO, with a loeat contribution of 

S250,()iiO, for a total of S750,(KX) to enhance aii service in the community. 

The San Lui.'; Obispo County Regional Aitport is vital to the economy of the region 

ind scr^cs as our local consectiun to the air transponaliun sj'siem. Its location on the 

Central Coast of California inakes it even more important that air service is nvailahle 

locally to avoid long cotmnutcs to airjiorrs of a size that otTera competitive service and 

pricing. 

Several vers'ices, including Sacramento, Seattle. Denver. Poniand and Salt Lake 

Cit\ are highly desirable on the Central Coast, as evidenced by tiie findings in a recent air 

s<:rvices survey »ith 2000 respondents. Approximately, 125 businesses and instituliuns 

have co-located facilities in one or more of these cities. The community of San Luis 

Obispo County needs additional one-stop service to one or more of these destinations. 

There arc atready strong ties and demonstrated need fot direct service to 

Sacrammto from San Luis Obispo. alUtough that 5er\'icB was discnminued in 1 ')98. The 

state has numeruu.s facilities in our County, including Califuniia Fol}1echnic State 

University, Cuesta Community College. (Talifomia Men's Colony, and the California 

Dcpanmenl of Transportation. 

Thank you tor your alrenlion to this important request. Secretary La Hood. J 

wholeheartedly endorse this application and hope that you uill give lull and fair 

consideration to the San Luis Obispo Regional Airport's application, consistent with all 

relevant rules and regulations. 
SI 0-091021-016 

LOI S CAPPS 

Member of Congress 
SI 0-091021-016 

5UTE CAPITOL 

••.A; '•A'.' i \i O Z, * II.' : • 

(L'alifiu-uia l:ci^islatnn' 

DtSIHiCTOFFICF 

SAMBI.AKL^Sl.I-i: 

ASSEMBLV UIKOFIKY LCAUEK 

Aufctiist :i.20o y 

rhc Honorable Kay I.nllood 

United Stales SccrcuUN of •rraiisiHMt.uiiHi 

1200Nc\vJcrscy Ave.. SIWashington IK' 20500 

Deur .Seereiiir>' l.jlfood: 

I :uu picnsed lo lend my enihusiitsiic suppurt the rcqiiesi by the San i.ujs Ohispo C'ounty 

RcgioiKil Airport lor ;i gninl lor the tlsciil ye;ir 2(H)9 Small Coniiuunily Air Scr\'ice 

Dcvclcipmeni IVujiram. The amount ol' ihe grant request i.s 5500.000 with j loeal 

coiuribuiiori uC$250,000 tor a (ni:il orS7."^0.000 to eiiliance air service in inir coniinimiiv. 

The San T.uis Obi.spo County Reuiona) Airport i.s vital to the economy of the ivgion and 

serves as our local connection to the air transportatit^i) system. Our central coast of 

Calitornia location makes ii even more important that air service is available locally tu 

avoid the iwo. three anil many times. Jour hour ci'iiinmiw lo airf>ons of a size which offer 

competitive service and pricing. 

Several services, including Sacramento. Se;uile, Oenver, Portland, and Salt l,ake City arc 

highly desirable, as evidenced Irum the I'lndings in a recently concluded air ser\ice 

survey where user 200f) responses were received. 

Our eointnuniiy need.s additional one-stop service to one or more of these destinations. 

We h:i\e strong ties and a demonstrated need fur direct senice to our stale capital. 

Sacrainenio. that was diseoniinued in Vlay. iy98. The State has facilities located in our 

County including the California Mens Colony Detention |-aciiity, Ala-seadcro Slate 

(•(ospital. Cat Poly State laiiversity, Cuesta College, :md the Cal Trans District Office, 

Additionally, according to other suney results, approximately 125 businesses or 

institutions ha\e co- located facilities in otie or more nf the loljowing cities; Sacramento. 

Scjttle. Denver. Salt Lake C'»t>. or Portland. 

Govemmcnl officials have been emphasi/.Ing the direct .service neeJ.s lor ninny years and 

we are of the ^ipinion that the Hervicc cannot be aeconiplishetl without this gr;ml. W'e 

sincerely hope yoa will give :>trong consideration of the application as subiniiied b>' San 

Luis Ojhispo County Regional Aiiport. 

Sincen