San Francisco's Municipal Transit Agency has awarded a $1.5M communications and PR pact to support its Transit Effectiveness Project, a quality push to improve service to its 700K daily riders.
SF-based Barbary Coast Consulting, teamed with Oakland-based CirclePoint, edged a second finalist, Berkeley-based MIG, to win the three-year PR assignment, following an RFQ and RFP process dating back to September 2012.
The firm is charged with communicating, fostering public engagement and building consensus with stakeholders on the TEP endeavor via strategic communications, marketing/branding, public outreach and other means.
The transit agency, which approved the pact Oct. 23, said it considered handling the work in-house but the "scope and complexity" of the TEP project required an outside PR contractor.
The SFMTA, which runs bus service, streetcars, a light rail and the city's famed cable cars, this week endured a four-day strike by workers of the Bay Area Rapid Transit rail system during which it provided alternative transportation for commuters.
Barbary, founded by Alex Clemens, has worked with PR and PA clients like the California Culinary Academy, Hudson River landing hero Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger, Bank of San Francisco and KB Home.
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