Interstate 405
Wilkinson Ferrari & Co. is managing the strategic communications program for the $7 billion I-405 improvement program. The agency is consulting with the Washington State Department of Transportation to assist with early communications research and planning as well as ongoing messaging and implementation of the communications program.

Utah County I-15 Corridor Management Plan Study-Agency and Public Involvement, Present
The Utah County I-15 study is a comprehensive study of what the I-15 needs will be through Utah County in the next 30 years. Working with Carter+Burgess, WF&V prepared a public involvement plan that would meet the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. The public involvement plan includes an intensive scoping process that utilizes public opinion surveys, focus groups sessions, visioning meetings, open houses and evaluations. The plan also includes an ongoing education component to keep the public apprised of the Study’s progress and results.

The Legacy Parkway, Fall 2000 – Winter 2001
WF&V strategized for and developed the preliminary communication plan for the Legacy Parkway. WF&V oversaw and coordinated preliminary research to determine public perceptions about the project and then designed a communications plan with primary messages for key stakeholders, as well as strategies and timelines. A press kit was developed and included graphics, fact sheets and additonal support materials. Media relations also consisted of scheduling of routine editorial board meetings and pitching stories to print and broadcast media.

Interstate 15 Reconstruction Project, 1996-present
WF&V staff served as public relations consultants for the Utah Department of Transportation’s $1.59 billion, 17-mile Interstate 15 Reconstruction Project, one of the largest infrastructure projects in the U.S. WF&V provided a full-time public information director, media relations manager and business/local government relations manager. In that role, the firm assisted UDOT with the management of major public relations, governmental and legislative issues while also overseeing the public information efforts of Wasatch Constructors, the design/build consortium rebuilding the freeway.

Salt Lake City Rail Constructors, August 2000-present
WF&V staff provides full-time public information services for the joint venture contractor (Stacy-Witbeck Construction, Flatiron Structures and others) building a $118 billion, 1.5-mile light rail spur between downtown Salt Lake City and the University of Utah stadium, future home of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games opening and closing ceremonies. WF&V’s role is to educate residents and businesses located along the corridor while also serving as the contractor’s communication liaison with UTA, the University of Utah, UDOT and Salt Lake City.
Carter+Burgess Engineering (for Colorado Department of Transportation), 2000

WF&V managed a comprehensive stakeholder research project for the $1.6 billion Southeast Corridor light rail and highway construction project in Denver, Colorado, and consulted with C+B and CDOT about public information for large highway projects.

UDOT Communications Audit and Recommendations, 1998
WF&V performed an audit of the Utah Department of Transportation’s community relations/public affairs functions in the fourth quarter of 1998. This consisted of both external and internal reviews of the Department’s efforts, including looks at how well the Department is communicating with its various constituent groups and how well the Department is organized to provide a proactive communications effort. The report also proposed a series of recommendations about the structure and staff of the function, the need to incorporate planning and strategic approaches and various tactics to take to move the communications function forward.

Interstate 80 Major Investment Study, 1997-98
As a subcontractor to transportation engineering firm Sear-Brown Group, WF&V staff provided media relations services for this study of reconstruction options for five miles of Interstate 80 between Interstate 15 and the mouth of Parleys Canyon. Services included promoting awareness of the study in general, various options being reviewed, and encouraging the public to attend open meetings.

Park City paid parking introduction, 1997
Working with Dunn Communications and Park City Municipal Corp., WF&V staff provided media relations services for the controversial introduction of a paid parking system in the Old Town section of Park City. WF&V and Dunn Communications were charged were educating the public about why a paid parking system was needed and how to use it once it was installed.