Assemblywoman Jenne noted elimination of those funds would likely dramatically impact passenger air service options in the North Country. President Trump's budget blueprint calls for eliminating $175 million in federal funds provided to rural communities in under served areas.
"I am concerned about the future of North Country airports, including the Watertown, Ogdensburg and Massena international airports, which are supported by the federal Department of Transportation’s Essential Air Service (EAS) program," she wrote in a letter sent to Senator Charles Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
"The budget blueprint eliminates funding or the EAS program, which would likely result in a reduction or termination of air service to these rural communities and in largely unaffordable rates for the flights that remain. I urge you to oppose the inclusion of this cut in future budget negotiations in Washington. Our communities cannot afford to lose this critical service," Assemblywoman Jenne added in her letter to the federal representatives.
"The communities served by the airports threatened by the elimination of the EAS program rely on affordable air travel to connect with essential services, including medical procedures and economic opportunities in other parts of New York State and the country," Assemblywoman Jenne added.
The Watertown airport offers twice-daily flights to Philadelphia. Airport officials reported 17,855 boarded the planes in Watertown in 2016.
The Massena airport had 5,323 passenger boardings in 2016, and Ogdensburg had 10,305 passengers get on planes last year.
Local airports have seen reductions in their EAS subsidies in recent years. The Watertown airport's subsidy has dropped from $3.3 million to $1.9 million in recent years and the Massena airport's latest annual subsidy is $2.87 million for a two-year contract running from April 2017 to March 2019. Boutique Air will connect Massena with airports in Albany and Baltimore under the terms of the new package.
The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority is receiving over $10 million in Essential Air Service subsidies under the terms of a four-year contract that expires March 30, 2019.
Cape Air's annual subsidy rates were $2,419,820 for the first year, $2,516,612 for the second year, $2,617,277 for this year, and $2,721,968 for the next year. Cape Air connects Ogdensburg to airports in Albany and Boston. Allegiant Air offers non-subsidized flights from the Ogdensburg airport.
She said the EAS funding has provided local airports with a foundation that has allowed them to grow and better serve their communities.
The Ogdensburg airport finished a runway expansion project last year and is now offering flights to Florida, and the Watertown International Airport opened its Business Center in 2015.
Assemblywoman Jenne pointed out air passenger seeking a flight into or out of he North Country would need to drive nearly three hours to Burlington, Vt., or Syracuse if passenger service was no longer available in Massena.
"We continue to work hard to bring new employment into the area, and we know transportation issues are one of our challenges in the North Country. The loss of passenger air service at our areas would harm our economic development efforts, hurt our efforts to grow tourism in the region and damage our ability to recruit professionals to live and work in the North Country," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
"Local residents would also be impacted if these subsidies were eliminated, a move that would likely end daily air service to most of the North Country. These three airports provide access to larger hubs and allow people to more easily travel to and from the North County," she added.
