1. Marketing & Communications Workshop Special Events February 26, 2013

2. 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

3. Bus Terminals: Here, there … everywhere 3 Four Ground Breakings 03.02.09: Downtown Transfer Center 05.28.09: Westside Transfer Center 07.09.09: Glory Road Transfer Center 07.16.09: Mission Valley Transfer Center Four Grand Openings 10.16.09: Downtown Transfer Center 04.08.10: Westside Transfer Center 11.18.10: Mission Valley Transfer Center (LEED) 01.13.11: Glory Road Transfer Center (LEED) June-July 2009 was a stressful Blissfully unaware

4. Ground Breaking: The Easy Event 4 Budget: $300-600 Biggest costs: tent rental, A/C rental, print collateral, musical entertainment

5. 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

6. Downtown Transfer Center 6 Opened: 09.27.09 Ceremony: 10.16.09 Cost: $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. 7 Downtown Transfer Center Hindsight is 20/20 Ribbon Confetti cannons Musicians Staging area  Everyone had fun despite the flaws

8. Westside Transfer Center 8 Opened: 03.28.10 Ceremony: 04.08.10 Cost: $5 million (FTA funding: $3.8 million)

9. Mission Valley Transfer Center 9 Opened: 11.28.10 Ceremony: 11.18.10 Cost: $5 million (FTA funding: $4 million)

10. Glory Road Transfer Center 10 Opened: 01.16.11 Ceremony: 01.13.11 Cost: $13 million (FTA funding: $8 million)

11. 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. 12 Lessons Learned Partnerships are GREAT Don’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’ Motto Always be prepared for the worst (weather, parking, accidents, delays) Be Flexible Even 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. 13 Laura Cruz-Acosta Marketing and Public Affairs Coordinator Direct: 915.534.5803 E-mail: Cruz-AcostaLA@elpasotexas.gov