Reforms Will Save Millions; Still Ensure Quality, Accessibility

CHICAGO - February 14, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today kicked off the week of the fiscal year 2012 budget address by signing Senate Bill 3778, which will save taxpayers millions annually by retooling the Seniors Ride Free program.

"This reform sets the standard we must meet for state programs by reducing costs while also ensuring transportation services for our most dependent seniors," Governor Quinn said. "To start off a week that will highlight important budget reforms, we're taking important steps to ensure our state transit programs are fiscally responsible but also accessible to the riders who depend on them."

Senate Bill 3778, sponsored by Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago) and Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), scales back the Seniors Ride Free program by providing a 50 percent discount on state transit to all senior citizens. Previously, all seniors received a free fare. The new law is estimated to save more than $30 million, and almost 60 percent of the seniors currently riding for free will still be eligible to ride without charge.

Free rides will be available to seniors who meet specific financial requirements. A one-person household with an annual income of $27,610 or less will still be eligible for the free fare, as will a two-person household earning less than $36,635 and households of three or more earning $45,657 or less.

Governor Quinn also signed Senate Bill 3965 today, which brings oversight of the regional transit boards under the jurisdiction of the Executive Inspector General and Executive Ethics Commission. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) and Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo), requires each regional inspector general to submit a monthly report to the Executive Inspector General which will outline, among other things, the agency's reported complaints, as well as investigation status and outcomes. The Executive Inspector General will work to detect and prevent fraud and mismanagement at all levels of the transit agencies.

Senate Bill 3778 goes into effect immediately. Senate Bill 3965 has an effective date of July 1.

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COMPANY OFFERS $64.99* ONE-WAY FARES

MOLINE, Ill. - Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT), today announces low-cost, nonstop travel service between Moline/Quad Cities, Ill., and theTampa Bay, Fla., area beginning Feb. 18, 2011.  The company, known for its exceptional travel deals, is offering its customers fares between the two cities for as low as $64.99* one-way.

"We're pleased to announce yet another affordable and convenient way for our customers to get away," Andrew C. Levy, Allegiant Travel Company President, said. "We are confident the Moline/Quad Cities community will appreciate the value of flying nonstop to the Tampa Bay area and the great deals we offer on hotels and car rentals."

"I am thrilled Allegiant is continuing to expand in the Quad Cities by adding nonstop service to the Tampa/St. Petersburg area," Bruce Carter, Director of Aviation for the Quad City International Airport, said. "The Tampa/St. Pete area has some of the most popular beaches in Florida and will be a great vacation destination.  With the addition of these flights, the QCIA will now have 12 nonstop destinations?more than ever before in the history of the airport."

The new flights will operate twice weekly betweenQuad City International Airport(MLI) and St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), with service Monday andFriday. Flights will depart Moline/Quad Cities at 5:40 p.m. arriving in the Tampa Bay area at 9:10 p.m. Flights leaving the Tampa Bay area will depart at 3:20 p.m. arriving in Moline/Quad Cities at 5 p.m. (all flight times are local).  The carrier will utilize a full-size, 150-seat MD-80 jet aircraft on the route.  The company also offers nonstop service from Moline/Quad Cities to Las Vegas and Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.

With an average 361 days of sunshine each year, the St. Petersburg-Clearwater area is considered the most popular vacation destination on Florida's West Coast.  The area was named among the top beaches in the United States and is one of a few destinations to have received the "Blue Wave Award" from the Clean Beaches Council.  In addition to pristine beaches, visitors are within minutes of shopping, amazing golf courses and award-winning resort and dining experiences.

Allegiant is more than an airline, it is a full-service travel company that offers great value to its customers through its hotel and car rental packages.  The company partners with 20of the Tampa Bay area's most exciting hotel properties, including: Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, Barefoot Beach Resort, Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort, Sheraton Sand Key Resort, Alden Beach Resort, Don CeSar Beach Resort andSirata Beach Resort & Conference Center. Allegiant provides low-cost car rental service through its partnership with Alamo Rent a Car.

Allegiant's offer is not available on all flights and must be purchased by Jan. 26, 2011. Reservations may be made through the company's website at www.allegiant.comor by calling Allegiant's travel experts at 702-505-8888.

About the offer:
Valid between Moline/Quad Cities, Ill., and Tampa Bay, Fla. Seats are limited. Fares are one-way and not available on all flights. Must be purchased by Jan. 26, 2011. Prices do not include PFC, segment tax or Sept. 11 security fee of up to $10.70 per segment. A segment is one take-off and one landing. A convenience fee of $14.99 per passenger will apply when booked on allegiant.com. A convenience fee of $14.99 per passenger, plus $14.99 per segment, will apply when purchased through Allegiant call centers. Purchases made at any Allegiant Airport Ticket Office will not incur a convenience or call center fee. For ticket counter hours of operation, please visit www.allegiant.com. When purchased at the time of booking, a checked bag fee of $14.99-$29.99 per bag will apply per person, per segment. If purchased at flight check-in, a fee of $35 per checked bag, per person, per segment will apply for the first two bags checked. Additional higher fees will apply for three or more checked bags. Fare rules, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice. Restrictions apply. $20 savings based on a two-night, air+hotel purchase; valid at select Allegiant hotels.

Allegiant, travel is our deal.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT), is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations such as Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix-Mesa, Orlando, Fla., and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.  Through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, the company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline offering air travel both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel-related services.  In 2010, Allegiant was ranked number one for low-cost carriers in Aviation Week's Top Performing Airline study and ranked 25 on FORTUNE magazine's Fastest-Growing Companies list.  Receive breaking news from Allegiant by visiting Allegiant's Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/Allegiantor follow Allegiant on Twitter at twitter.com/allegiantair.

 

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?LAS VEGAS - Known for its great travel deals, Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is offering customers a limited-time opportunity to save even more on travel to Vegas. When purchasing an air and hotel package to Las Vegas now through Nov. 30, travelers will save an additional $35* on the airfare for travel through Feb. 28, 2011.

Markets that are eligible for the $35* savings offer to Vegas include :

·         Cedar Rapids, Iowa

·         Grand Island, Neb.

·         Great Falls, Mont.

·         Kalispell, Mont.

·         Laredo, Texas

·         Moline, Ill.

·         Northwest Arkansas

·         Peoria, Ill.

·         Wichita, Kansas

Allegiant recently announced it pledge to offer the lowest air and hotel package prices through its Allegiant Low-Price Pledge**. The Pledge** offers a guarantee to customers that if they find an air and hotel package for less, Allegiant will issue up to two free roundtrip tickets per itinerary to use on a future Allegiant flight to the same destination. Customers have up to seven days after the reservation is made to report the price to Allegiant.

With world-renowned resorts, spas, casinos and entertainment options for visitors of all ages, Las Vegas is one of the most dynamic travel destinations in the world. With an average of more than 37 million people visiting each year, the vast majority of these visitors come to experience the Las Vegas Strip. The famous 4.2-mile section of Las Vegas Boulevard is home to 19 of the world's largest hotels?each with their own unique look, atmosphere and offerings. Those looking for a more serene getaway can spend time hiking or climbing at Red Rock National Recreation Area or exploring Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. Las Vegas truly presents a one-of-a kind vacation that can be enjoyed any time of the year.

The company offers low-cost air and hotel packages with more than 60 of Las Vegas' most exciting hotel properties including: Planet Hollywood, Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Country Club, Bellagio, The Venetian Resort & Casino, Paris Las Vegas, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Caesars Palace, Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, The Mirage, Excalibur Hotel & Casino, New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, ARIA Resort & Casino at CityCenter and Red Rock Resort & Spa. The company also provides low-cost car rental service through its partnership with Alamo Rent a Car.

About the $35* off roundtrip airfares:

Offer based on roundtrip travel, a minimum of three (3) nights, air plus hotel purchase and valid only at select Allegiant preferred hotels in Las Vegas, and select cities serviced through Las Vegas. Hotel stay must be for the entire duration of the trip, and on the same itinerary. Offer available for travel through Feb. 28, 2011, and must be booked by Nov. 30, 2010. Offer not valid on a previous reservations or airport or travel agent bookings. A maximum of three (3) passengers per itinerary are eligible for this offer. Allegiant reserves the right to alter or cancel this offer at any time. $30 off valid between Cedar Rapids, IA, Grand Island, NE, Great Falls, MT, Kalispell, MT, Laredo, TX, Moline, IL, Northwest Arkansas, Peoria, IL, Wichita, KS and Las Vegas.

About the Low-Price Pledge**:

Low-Price Pledge valid on fare plus hotel packages only. Competitive price cannot include Allegiant Air service, see www.allegiant.com for complete details.

Allegiant, travel is our deal.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT), is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations such as Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix-Mesa, Orlando, Fla., and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla. Through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, the company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline offering air travel both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel-related services. In 2010, Allegiant was ranked number one for low-cost carriers in Aviation Week's Top Performing Airline study and ranked 25 on FORTUNE magazine's Fastest-Growing Companies list. Receive breaking news from Allegiant by visiting Allegiant's Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/Allegiant or follow Allegiant on Twitter at twitter.com/allegiantair.

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$5 Million State Capital Match Completes Funding, Creates 750 Jobs

MOLINE - Oct. 21, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn was joined by U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Joseph Szabo, Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig and local officials today to announce full funding for the Moline Transportation Center that will serve as a station for new Amtrak service between Chicago and the Quad Cities. The station project will create 750 construction jobs. The realization of passenger rail service in downtown Moline will support approximately 1,600 direct and indirect jobs.

"Throughout the state, we have seen transportation investments bring new jobs to communities," Governor Quinn said. "This new station and new Amtrak service from Chicago will serve as a magnet for economic development for Moline and the entire Quad Cities region."

The total station cost is $16.6 million. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) was awarded competitive federal funding for the Moline Train Station through Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Program this week. The $10 million award was one of only 75 projects funded through the US Department of Transportation (US DOT), which received nearly one thousand applications nationwide.

This summer, Governor Quinn identified the project as a top priority and directed IDOT to serve as the lead applicant. In total, the state will support the project with approximately $5 million Illinois Jobs Now! capital plan funding. $1.7 million was raised locally to serve as an additional match.

The new station will be built across from the existing Centre Station facility and connected via a pedestrian walkway. The facility will support passenger rail, public transit, car rental and water taxi, making it easy for passengers to move from mode to mode.

"This station was one of the final pieces to the puzzle of bringing passenger rail to the Quad Cities," Congressman Hare said. "It will be an engine for economic development for the entire Quad Cities region."

The project's design and engineering phases will take place this winter. Construction will start in the spring, with the facility opening late 2012.

"Each TIGER II grant rewards true excellence, effective partnerships, and good stewardship of taxpayer dollars - and the fact that the Moline Multimodal Station is one of 75 projects selected from among the 1000 applications received, is a testament to its value," FRA Administrator Szabo said.

The project is part of the vision to add Amtrak service from Chicago to Iowa City and ultimately to Omaha, Nebraska. In January, Governor Quinn committed $45 million to construct the necessary connection between the Iowa Interstate Railroad and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway that will allow for service to reach the Quad Cities. The construction of the connection, which will start next year, will create an estimated 440 construction jobs.

Service from Chicago will begin as early as two years from now. This will mark the first service to the Quad Cities since 1979.

The new station in Moline is planned to be LEED Certified as part of the "Green Line" concept for the corridor, which will serve as a model of environmentally-friendly service for the rest of the country. Trains serving the line will use many green technologies from Illinois, including biofuels and soy-based lubricants. Passengers will be treated to locally grown agriculture and an aggressive recycling program.

"The Illinois Department of Transportation is committed to building a network of passenger rail that creates jobs and serves the residents of a 21^st Century economy," Secretary Hannig said. "This project puts us one step closer to accomplishing that goal."

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