Question

Topic: Advertising/PR

Public Transportation Center Grand Opening Ideas

Posted by Anonymous on 7/21/2010 at 6:21 PM ET 250 Points
A new bus bay at our Public Transportation Center has just been built and we’d like to have a grand opening event to showcase the many attributes before the first bus drives through. Although our Transit Center and original bay was built only 5 years ago (although built to look like a historic landmark to match other Down Town buildings), our service has grown with leaps and bounds- so this new transit bay is a much needed addition for all of the fixed route busses, trolley’s, shuttles, Greyhound busses, etc. that come through our Transit Center on a daily/hourly basis. In addition to the space, we have taken this opportunity to add real-time bus stops in this new bay that show where each bus is on each route- and when that bus will reach the Transit Center (based on new GPS technology installed on each bus). We’ve also installed another jumbo-tron showing each route and the estimated time each bus will arrive (like at the airport) inside the transit center building- all of which are powered by solar panels.
We live in a small community- and our Public Transportation (although recently given a facelift) still holds a negative stigma (only low-income people ride the bus). We feel like this grand opening event, like any thing else we do, has the opportunity to shed a positive light on public transit and what it offers to our community. Any thoughts on a grand opening idea?
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 7/22/2010 at 8:40 AM Accepted
    How about a series of party buses rolling through? For example, a jazz band arrives on the first bus, then play, then leave. 30 minutes later, a magician arrives, etc. The message: "The easy way to find fun on the bus".
  • Posted by marketbase on 7/22/2010 at 2:35 PM Accepted
    Piggybacking on Jay's idea, above; Consider inviting municipal and buisness leaders to ride public transportation at appointed hours (or on certain routes), i.e. Rotarians, Lions, politicians, etc as well as "media hour" i.e. TV, local newspaper reporters & editors to give some credibility to the entire public transportation issue as viable. The reporters & editors get instant 'community/personal story' opps...


    Best
    jag
    MarketBase
  • Posted by Ghost Writer on 7/22/2010 at 5:24 PM Member
    I would definitely put on a special bus for the media, allowing them to experience the new system for themselves.

    Then, you can have them watch the jumbo tron for the next special bus, the one carrying the Mayor and/or load of City Council members, president of the transit company, etc. Put everyone that anyone would want to interview on board that bus and get the reporters there first so they can see how well the schedule system works.

    Invite any local celebrity (sports, entertainment) you can to help dispell the stigma of 'poor folk on the bus'.

    I like the idea of the celebration growing with the arrival of one bus after another ... first a band, then some clowns, then dancers, then food, then balloons/prizes for kids, until you've got a full-scale party at the terminal.

    You can also use the opportunity to announce longer-term promotions, such as a grand prize for rider number 10,000 (starting from today), a contest for schoolkids to name the terminal or make art for the public spaces, a monthly display of local history or crafts (partner with the local historical society, gallery, museum, etc. for no-cost content) ...

    Hope that helps!

    ~Ghost Writer~
  • Posted on 7/23/2010 at 12:16 PM Author
    These are great ideas! Thank you all for your help!
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