Nuts and Bolts of Successful Special Events

Mary Currie, Public Affairs, Director, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District

APTA Marketing and Communications, February 2013

Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District

• Special District, 19 Board members• 800 Employees, 28 Unions, 7 facility locations• 200 Buses, 7 Ferry Vessels, and 1 famous Bridge• $179 million Annual Operating Budget• Golden Gate Bridge tolls subsidize 50% of Transit Ops

Special Events

Special Events

Special Events

Special Events

San Francisco’s Premier Event – Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary, 5/27/12

• 1987 - 800,000 people

• 2012 - Safety and Security issues

• 12 months left to plan, fund, and execute

12 Months to Go• Define – No Walk on Bridge this Time• Define – Fitting for the Hard Economic Times• Duration – One day, One year? • Participants – Bay Area Community and beyond• Funding – ALL Privately Funded, NO TOLLS• Sponsors – Find a non-profit partner ASAP• Partner Buy-In from all neighboring agencies on

board – SF, NPS, CHP, Presidio, USCG, Marin, etc.

Public Agency PartnersKey Partners and Many Friends

Private Funding Sponsors: Genentech, Hewlett Packard, Kaiser, Wells Fargo, Odwalla, Chevron, Hanson Bridgett, PG&E, Levi Strauss & Co, Bank of America, American Express, Chronicle Books, San Francisco Giants, Charles SchwabIndividuals: 30 generous friends and growing

Media Partners

1. 75 Community Tributes – Community Involved2. Create Lasting Visitor Experience 3. May 27 Event – Family Fun

75 Community Tributes

75 Community TributesArt Deco Society of California

All New Visitor Experience - May 2012

All New Visitor Experience• Bridge Pavilion

• Bridge Plaza

• Personally Guided Tours

• Green Screen Photography

• Renovated Café

• Outdoor and Indoor Exhibits

• Overlooks, Trail Connections

• Sign Program

May 27, 2012 – THE BIG DAY

Public Access for May 27, 2012

• No Parking• Bike• Walk/Hike• Public Transit

Golden Gate Ferry – Operated every 30 to 60 minutes, 11 am to 1 am, carried 4,000 passengers.Golden Gate Transit – Operated 5 routes with dynamic adjustments as the day unfolded, carried nearly 8,000 passengers.