Transportation Secretary LaHood Visits the Virgin Islands

(St. Croix, US Virgin Islands – August 15, 2012) – V.I. Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen on Wednesday welcomed U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to the U.S. Virgin Islands and praised the Secretary’s announcement of a $300,000 grant awarded to the V.I. Port Authority to help attract new air service between St. Croix and the U.S. mainland.

“I am very pleased that the Secretary responded graciously to my invitation to visit the Virgin Islands,” said Congresswoman Christensen, who was joined by Governor John P. deJongh Jr. and other local officials during a visit to the Christiansted By-Pass project and a press conference at the Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport in St. Croix. “The territory continues to experience an unprecedented economic crisis and with the closure of the HOVENSA refinery in St. Croix, the Secretary’s visit reassures our community that the issues, concerns and challenges of the U.S. territories continue to be important to the federal government.

The delegation also visited the Long Bay project in St. Thomas Wednesday afternoon. Congresswoman Christensen said one of the reasons why she invited the Secretary was for him to see first hand the territory’s land, air and sea transportation challenges and also visit the infrastructure projects made possible through the Surface Transportation funds, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and other federal funding.

“For the Virgin Islands, in particular, the high cost of inter-island travel, the need for more public transportation and other related issues, are of great concern to our residents. The Secretary’s presence signals that these are his concerns and that of the administration of President Obama,” Christensen added.

During the press conference, Secretary LaHood announced the V.I. Port Authority was awarded a $300,000 grant through DOT’s Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP). Congress established the program to assist smaller communities with enhancing their air service and address high air fair issues.

Statutory requirements for the funding include insufficient air service, unreasonably high air fares, and/or geographic diversity, as well as meeting priority considerations such as local cash contributions, established public/private partnerships, material benefits to the general public and timely use of grant funds. Also considered is whether multiple communities cooperate to submit a regional or multistate application to consolidate air service into one regional airport.

St. Croix is one of the 33 communities in 25 states/territories across the country receiving a total of $13.9 million under SCASDP. Officials said the funds will be used to develop risk-sharing/incentive programs to improve commercial air service between St. Croix and the U.S. mainland.

“I have no doubt that, not only will this money be well spent, but that it will provide opportunities for airlines to fly in and out from across different parts of the U.S. and the world,” Secretary LaHood said during his visit to the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix.

Secretary LaHood thanked Congresswoman Christensen for the invitation and added that he was impressed with the Christiansted By-Pass and Long Bay projects, commending V.I. Public Works Commissioner Daryl Smalls and his team on the progress thus far. As the two-year cycle of the Transportation Bill is formed, LaHood stressed that there will be no question about investing in the U.S. Virgin Islands because he is confident that the federally funded projects will be completed properly and by the book.

CUTLINES

Photos courtesy of the Office of the Delegate to Congress

Press Conf2

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood speaks during a press conference Wednesday at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix                              

Press Conf3

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen converse before Wednesday’s press conference at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix.

DCCBypass9

V.I. Public Works Commissioner Daryl Smalls, left, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen and Governor John P. deJongh Jr. discuss the Christiansted By-Pass Project  in St. Croix during a site visit Wednesday.