Flights to Kansas City rejected
Tri-City Initiative not funded by DOT
By Tracy Overstreet
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The regionally supported Tri-City Initiative -- a proposal to provide both westbound and eastbound air service to Central Nebraska -- was rejected on Thursday by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
"It's cost -- strictly cost," said Bill Stovall, manager of the Central Nebraska Regional Airport. "The Department of Transportation (DOT) is facing a 50 percent cut" in funds.
The Tri-City Initiative had a federal subsidy cost of $2.6 million compared to the $1.2 million Grand Island service and $1.2 million Kearney service under individual contracts.
However, it was the preferred air service plan supported by Grand Island, Hastings and Kearney and a proposal signed by all three mayors -- support that was noticed by U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne of Nebraska's 3rd District.
"I was dismayed by the DOT's decision to not select some of the communities' first choices -- particularly for the communities of Grand Island, Kearney and Hastings," Osborne said. "I was encouraged by the communities' proposal to partner together to provide service to both Denver and Kansas City, as this initiative would have delivered viable economic opportunities to the 3rd District."
Grand Island Mayor Jay Vavricek had only one initial reaction to Thursday's federal announcement.
"One of disappointment," he said. "The Tri-City Initiative made the most sense not only for Grand Island, Hastings and Kearney, but for all of Nebraska."
Because no one has eastbound air service, Vavricek said, he really thought that having Grand Island and Kearney working together -- for Grand Island to fly west to Denver with a stop in Kearney and Kearney to fly east to Kansas City with a stop in Grand Island -- was a way to capitalize on strengths and help each other.
Hastings Mayor Rick Sheehy was also disappointed.
"For a number of years, Kearney, Grand Island and Hastings have been working together to develop better commercial air service for Central Nebraska," he said. "We thought we came up with a plan that was the best for all three cities."
Vavricek thought the plan was so well thought out that he wants the DOT to confirm its findings.
"I never count my chickens before they hatch -- particularly in government programs -- but I was hopeful and wouldn't rule out a reconsideration, although it's highly unlikely," Vavricek said.
Kearney Mayor Bruce Blankenship was disappointed that the DOT said it was open to "out-of-the-box" ideas and then ended up not selecting such a proposal.
"But we are pleased to learn that Kearney will have dedicated aircraft where we will no longer have to compete for seats with other markets," he said.
Although not the preferred plan, the service the DOT approved represents an upgrade for Grand Island, which currently doesn't have nonstop service to Denver. Flights currently stop at Kearney and McCook.
Stovall was pleased that Grand Island now has nonstop service -- an asset that he said should help boost the number of people flying out of the Central Nebraska Regional Airport.
Although Grand Island's subsidy is for a 19-passenger plane, Stovall said there's also hope -- and encouragement from DOT -- to renegotiate with the airline to provide larger aircraft.
The air service is to begin on July 1 and continue through June 30, 2006.
Essential Air Service contracts
The following Nebraska cities were awarded Essential Air Service contracts to Great Lakes Aviation for the designated flights:
Grand Island: $1,198,396 for three round-trip nonstop flights on weekdays to Denver and four round-trip nonstops on weekends.
Kearney: $1,166,849 for three round-trip nonstop flights on weekdays to Denver and four round-trip nonstops on weekends.
McCook: $1,502,651 for three round-trip nonstop flights on weekdays to Denver and three round-trip nonstops on weekends.
North Platte: $870,504 for three round-trip nonstop flights on weekdays to Denver and four round-trip nonstops on weekends.
Scottsbluff: $494,887 for three round-trip nonstop flights on weekdays to Denver and four round-trip nonstops on weekends.
Norfolk: No funding.
Source: Central Nebraska Regional Airport