.6 AOiRONDACI( I~EALTH

AOIRO"DACK MEDICAL CENTER

22 3 3 Stste Route 86

Po Box 471

Sar;;n~:i( la~e. NY 12983

D 518.-891-4141

f- 51S 891T19'I

ADIRO"[MCI' MEDICAL CENTER!

LAKE PLACID

2;) Church Street

Lake Placid. NY 12946

518·523·3311

MlRCY L1VINC C£NT£R

11!l Wawbee!: Avenue

Tupper lake NY. 11986

518·359·335)

UIHlEIN LlVINC CENTER

185 Old i\~nitary Road

la~e Plow!. NY i2946

518·523·2464

AOIRONDA(1K DENIAL SERVICES

29 Church Street

lake PliiCld, NY 12946

5!8·523·1122

L\K£ Pl.ACIO HEALTH CENTER

29 Church Street

L.'!kE:'Placid. NY 12946

518523·1717

MOUMAI" HEALTH CE"HR

2841 State Route 73

Keene. r,Y 129'12

SI8S76·9771

SARA"AC LAKE HEALlH CENTER

285 Old lake Coiby Road

)aianat Lak? NY 12983

518·897·2850

TIJPP[R L'h. HE HTH CENTER

7 Stetson Road

Lipper i.2)\:r.. NY 12986

',:8·359·7000

Supervisor Bob Bevilacqua

Town of Harrietstown

39 Main Street

Saranac Lake, NY 12983

Re: Essential Air Service

Dear Supervisor Bevilacqua,

As you are aware, the February 2014 expiration of the current Essential Air Service (EAS)

contract at the airport is approaching. On behalf of Adirondack Health, we would request

the DOT and Town of Harrietstown explicitly solicit in the forthcoming EASRequest for

Proposals a summer-season increase in capacity to reflect the increase in ridership at the

airport over the past six years.

Since 2010, Cape Air has been operating increased flights during summer on their BostonSaranac Lake route. We request that this summer-seasonal increase in frequency be

codified in the RFP's frequency specification. Frequency and schedule convenience is vital

to the success of our airport and local economy. At the same time, we are eager to connect

our airport with the New York metropolitan area, in addition to the thriving hub

connectivity we have with Boston. We do not want to divert to New York one of our just

three daily authorized frequencies (leaving only two flights to the hub at Boston) as that

would undermine the already established popularity of these routes. An RFP sollciting

four daily flights in the summer would allow an airline like Cape Air to retain it's current

connections to the Boston hub (at least three daily non-stop flights), and using a fourth EAS

frequency to add incremental service to the New York City market, which is a primary

source for visitors. We would point to the success of Cape Air's Lebanon - New York City

service in the EASprogram. and understand that Cape Air is eager to add flights between

Saranac Lake and New York City under the auspices of the BASprogram.

Not only would this benefit local business and tourism industries, these flights to NYC

would be an asset for recruitment and retention of physicians and their spouses at

Adirondack Health. In addition to the benefits for that segment of our workforce, we would

support this from the broader community perspective that a rising tide lifts all boats, so to

speak. The indirect benefit of this additional traffic, growth, and visitor base helps large or

small employers grow, whose new employees and their families would require high-quality

healthcare.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Chandler Ralph

President & CEO

Adirondack Health

POBox 471

2233 State Route 86

Saranac Lake NY 12983