Marketing & Communications Workshop Special Events February 26, 2013

Marketing & Communications WorkshopSpecial EventsFebruary 26, 2013

Setting the Stage

From 2006 to 2011, the City of El Paso invested $81 million on a number of transit improvements to include:

• Four new transfer centers with modern amenities ($15 million ARRA funds)

• 103 new buses • Plans for a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System (four

corridors) and transit-oriented developments• Improved accessibility around bus stops

(200+ new shelters and amenities)

2

Bus Terminals: Here, there … everywhere

3

Four Ground Breakings03.02.09: Downtown Transfer Center05.28.09: Westside Transfer Center07.09.09: Glory Road Transfer Center07.16.09: Mission Valley Transfer Center

Four Grand Openings10.16.09: Downtown Transfer Center04.08.10: Westside Transfer Center11.18.10: Mission Valley Transfer Center (LEED)01.13.11: Glory Road Transfer Center (LEED)

June-July 2009 was a stressful

Blissfully unaware

Ground Breaking: The Easy Event

4

Budget: $300-600Biggest costs: tent rental, A/C rental, print collateral, musical entertainment

Grand Openings: GRAND Indeed

5

What is the realistic budget?

What are the BIG obstacles?- Active or inactive transfer

center/terminal- Working with district

representative/board member- Time table- Construction delays

Downtown Transfer Center

6

Opened: 09.27.09 Ceremony: 10.16.09Cost: $8.5 million (FTA funding: $6.6 million)

Amenities: • 16 bus bays (28 routes)• waiting areas• concession area• vending machines• ATM and change machines• free WiFi• real-time arrival monitors• electronic message boards at each bus

bay

7

Downtown Transfer Center

Hindsight is 20/20 Ribbon Confetti cannons Musicians Staging area Everyone had fun despite the

flaws

Westside Transfer Center

8

Opened: 03.28.10Ceremony: 04.08.10Cost: $5 million (FTA funding: $3.8 million)

Mission Valley Transfer Center

9

Opened: 11.28.10Ceremony: 11.18.10Cost: $5 million (FTA funding: $4 million)

Glory Road Transfer Center

10

Opened: 01.16.11Ceremony: 01.13.11Cost: $13 million (FTA funding: $8 million)

The Future Celebrations

11

New Operations & Maintenance Facility ($38M)

Four BRT Corridors known as Sun Metro Brio($135M)

Two additional transfer centers ($10M)

Three Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) communities

Northgate Transfer Center & TOD

Far-East Transfer Center & TOD

Five Points Terminal & TOD

12

Lessons Learned

Partnerships are GREATDon’t be afraid to ask people for money, free stuff or their time

Selling point: Public transit helps support local economy

Think BIG and Think VISUAL!Why not consider fireworks, you can always scale back Think of what might make a great picture/B-roll for media

Follow the Boy Scouts’ MottoAlways be prepared for the worst (weather, parking, accidents, delays)

Be FlexibleEven if you do follow the Boy Scouts’ motto, things are bound to go wrong no matter how well you plan, so have a plan B, C, D, etc. (or just let it go)

13

Laura Cruz-AcostaMarketing and Public Affairs Coordinator

Direct: 915.534.5803

E-mail: Cruz-AcostaLA@elpasotexas.gov