Southwest Strategies is one of California’s most respected, recognized and successful public affairs firms. For two decades, we have helped clients achieve their goals through innovative outreach strategies that get results. We have helped to secure and build more than $10 billion in infrastructure and land-use projects.
Southwest Strategies has extensive experience in public outreach for transportation infrastructure projects, including highway, rail, active transportation, bus rapid transit, environmental mitigation and ports of entry.
We understand the complexities associated with delivering transportation projects in today’s environment. Funding constraints, stringent California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) processes, and changes in land use and technology are creating new dynamics.
With offices in the Bay Area, the Central Valley and Southern California, our team is well positioned to service transportation projects throughout California and is tapped into the latest transportation trends at the local, regional and statewide levels.
We work with clients through the planning, construction and implementation phases. We also help agencies conduct outreach for their long-range planning. We specialize in translating technical jargon into public-friendly messages that help educate the public and position projects for success in the community.
We understand the complexities associated with delivering transportation projects in today’s environment. Funding constraints, stringent California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) processes, and changes in land use and technology are creating new dynamics.
With offices in the Bay Area, the Central Valley and Southern California, our team is well positioned to service transportation projects throughout California and is tapped into the latest transportation trends at the local, regional and statewide levels.
Our expertise, strategic guidance and innovative approach have made Southwest Strategies California’s leading public affairs and public outreach firm. Our clients come to us because we work harder, we produce more – and we get results. We design creative strategies to solve the complex issues that our clients – large and small – face every day.
Our capabilities and experience run deep. We offer a full-service, coordinated solution from strategy through execution.
Southwest Strategies offers comprehensive expertise and capabilities, from research to planning to visual communication to crisis management. Our fully integrated services allow us to streamline strategy and execution, delivering a seamless client experience – and the desired outcome.
Our capabilities and experience run deep. We offer a full-service, coordinated solution from strategy through execution.
Southwest Strategies has a long history of helping clients advance innovative transportation, transit and mobility projects in communities across the state by engaging stakeholders in a meaningful and authentic way. We are proud to work with a wide range of transportation leaders across California.
Southwest Strategies has been consistently honored and recognized for our work. Below is a sampling of awards and recognitions we have received in recent years.
Southwest Strategies is one of California’s most respected, recognized and successful public affairs firms. For three decades, we have helped clients achieve their goals through innovative outreach strategies that get results. We have helped to secure and build more than $10 billion in infrastructure and land-use projects.
The Tulare County Association of Government’s (TCAG) Measure R is a ½ cent sales tax measure passed by voters to fund transportation projects throughout the area. To commemorate Measure R’s 10-year anniversary, Southwest Strategies was retained to educate Tulare County residents about the sales tax measure’s benefits by designing an eye-catching collateral piece.
Southwest Strategies prepared a brochure to commemorate Measure R’s 10-year anniversary. The overall objective was to educate residents about what types of transportation infrastructure projects Measure R funds, which projects were successfully completed with funding from the sales tax measure and future projects Measure R funding would be allocated toward. To do this, our team coordinated new professional photography to capture the completed projects, which included freeway overcrossings, grade separations and bike paths. Particular attention on the brochure design was given toward visually conveying how transportation improvements link the county’s population centers to recreation centers like Sequoia National Park and to its agricultural resources. The brochure was completed on time and under budget for TCAG and its member agencies’ use.
Located along 27 miles from San Diego to Oceanside, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) North Coast Corridor(NCC) Program represents a $6 billion transportation, environmental and coastal access investment over the next few decades. SANDAG and Caltrans hired Southwest Strategies to continue and broaden the existing public outreach effort for the NCC Program.
Southwest Strategies worked to develop a comprehensive public outreach program aimed at building relationships and informing stakeholders throughout the planning, environmental review and construction processes, including creating messages and branding to help build awareness. To highlight the importance of NCC and keep stakeholders informed, Southwest Strategies also helped prepare comprehensive outreach campaigns tailored to the unique communities in the project area. The team has successfully communicated with thousands of stakeholders throughout San Diego County’s north coast corridor, generating greater awareness for this important regional project. Southwest Strategies continues to support SANDAG and Caltrans with outreach efforts as the first package of projects move through construction. These efforts include the continued development of materials, briefing stakeholders and elected officials, and coordinating the execution of media strategies and outreach.
The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) needed to develop and implement a communication program aimed at informing residents and stakeholders about regional bike projects during the planning, design and construction phases.
To ensure an open, transparent public process and provide up-to-date public information, Southwest Strategies successfully coordinated several community meetings for residents and interested members of the public to provide input on the decision-making process, as well as talk with project team members and ask questions. To engage key stakeholders, we also coordinated numerous presentations to City Council districts, community planning groups and other organizations. A variety of bilingual collateral materials were developed to provide information, invite the public to community meetings and encourage biking as a viable option for everyday travel. The team created project fact sheets, eblasts, display boards, postcards and detailed project maps to aid in outreach. Currently, 40 projects totaling about 77 miles of new bikeways are successfully underway in communities across San Diego County.
The North County Transit District (NCTD) moves more than 10 million passengers annually. In 2018, NCTD hired Southwest Strategies to develop and implement a long-term marketing and communication plan and assist with outreach and communications for its various business initiatives.
Southwest Strategies worked with NCTD to develop a five-year plan that strategically mapped out the agency’s marketing and communication goals, objectives and tactics. The plan provided an assessment of all NCTD services, including current marketing efforts and service challenges and plans for how to meet public transit needs and system goals.
One of the first tasks Southwest Strategies assisted NCTD with was the roll out of new online reservation and payment programs for their LIFT Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit riders. LIFT is an origin to destination service for people with disabilities who are unable to use bus and rail services due to their disability. Southwest Strategies conducted a mail-in survey that received more than 23 percent participation. The survey helped establish the population’s comfort level with technology, which informed best practices for rolling out the new programs. Using the data collected from the survey, Southwest Strategies created an outreach plan and collateral material designed to communicate the benefits of the new online platform, encourage LIFT riders to enroll in the new system and answer their frequently asked questions.
Southwest Strategies has helped California transportation agencies successfully reach their communication goals for more than three decades. From highways to transit, public education programs to complex infrastructure approvals, we’re who mobility leaders trust to get the job done. Our senior leadership guides a talented group of more than 100 professionals. We dedicate a specialized team – including an executive-level lead – to every project.
Chris Wahl has a long track record of success over the past 30+ years, helping secure and build more than $10 billion of infrastructure projects in the fields of energy, transportation, water and retail in California.
Stephanie Dell combines experience in government, community and media relations to deliver effective campaigns and assist in reputation management, crisis communication and land use entitlements.
Hope Reilly leads the SWS transportation outreach and communications practice. She oversees the strategic planning and implementation of comprehensive communications efforts for many of the state’s top transportation projects, programs and policies.
Jessica Luternauer specializes in developing and implementing strategic outreach and communication programs to help clients secure land use entitlements and regulatory approvals.
Zach MacQuarrie executes the implementation of public outreach effort sfor industry-leading transportation projects including regional transportation planning, construction outreach and mobility programs across the state.
Ashley Brill utilizes her background in public affairs and media relations to manage public outreach and strategic communications for some of California’s leading transportation projects.
401 B Street, Suite 150
San Diego, CA 92101
858.541.7800
559.271.6824
925.217.8771
Southwest Strategies is one of California’s most respected, recognized and successful public affairs firms. For two decades, we have helped clients achieve their goals through innovative outreach strategies that get results. We have helped to secure and build more than $10 billion in infrastructure and land-use projects.
Southwest Strategies is one of California’s most respected, recognized and successful public affairs firms. For two decades, we have helped clients achieve their goals through innovative outreach strategies that get results. We have helped to secure and build more than $10 billion in infrastructure and land-use projects.
Southwest Strategies is one of California’s most respected, recognized and successful public affairs firms. For two decades, we have helped clients achieve their goals through innovative outreach strategies that get results. We have helped to secure and build more than $10 billion in infrastructure and land-use projects.
Our expertise, strategic guidance and innovative approach have made Southwest Strategies California’s leading public affairs and public outreach firm. Our clients come to us because we work harder, we produce more – and we get results. We design creative strategies to solve the complex issues that our clients – large and small – face every day.
Southwest Strategies offers comprehensive expertise and capabilities, from research to planning to visual communication to crisis management. Our fully integrated services allow us to streamline strategy and execution, delivering a seamless client experience – and the desired outcome.
Southwest Strategies has a long history of helping clients advance innovative transportation, transit and mobility projects in communities across the state by engaging stakeholders in a meaningful and authentic way. We are proud to work with a wide range of transportation leaders across California.
Southwest Strategies has been consistently honored and recognized for our work. Below is a sampling of awards and recognitions we have received in recent years.
Southwest Strategies has extensive experience in public outreach for transportation infrastructure projects, including highway, rail, active transportation, bus rapid transit, environmental mitigation and ports of entry.
We understand the complexities associated with delivering transportation projects in today’s environment. Funding constraints, stringent California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) processes, and changes in land use and technology are creating new dynamics.
With offices in the Bay Area, the Central Valley and Southern California, our team is well positioned to service transportation projects throughout California and is tapped into the latest transportation trends at the local, regional and statewide levels.
We work with clients through the planning, construction and implementation phases. We also help agencies conduct outreach for their long-range planning. We specialize in translating technical jargon into public-friendly messages that help educate the public and position projects for success in the community.
The Tulare County Association of Government’s (TCAG) Measure R is a ½ cent sales tax measure passed by voters to fund transportation projects throughout the area. To commemorate Measure R’s 10-year anniversary, Southwest Strategies was retained to educate Tulare County residents about the sales tax measure’s benefits by designing an eye-catching collateral piece.
Southwest Strategies prepared a brochure to commemorate Measure R’s 10-year anniversary. The overall objective was to educate residents about what types of transportation infrastructure projects Measure R funds, which projects were successfully completed with funding from the sales tax measure and future projects Measure R funding would be allocated toward. To do this, our team coordinated new professional photography to capture the completed projects, which included freeway overcrossings, grade separations and bike paths. Particular attention on the brochure design was given toward visually conveying how transportation improvements link the county’s population centers to recreation centers like Sequoia National Park and to its agricultural resources. The brochure was completed on time and under budget for TCAG and its member agencies’ use.
Located along 27 miles from San Diego to Oceanside, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) North Coast Corridor(NCC) Program represents a $6 billion transportation, environmental and coastal access investment over the next few decades. SANDAG and Caltrans hired Southwest Strategies to continue and broaden the existing public outreach effort for the NCC Program.
Southwest Strategies worked to develop a comprehensive public outreach program aimed at building relationships and informing stakeholders throughout the planning, environmental review and construction processes, including creating messages and branding to help build awareness.
To highlight the importance of NCC and keep stakeholders informed, Southwest Strategies also helped prepare comprehensive outreach campaigns tailored to the unique communities in the project area. The team has successfully communicated with thousands of stakeholders throughout San Diego County’s north coast corridor, generating greater awareness for this important regional project. Southwest Strategies continues to support SANDAG and Caltrans with outreach efforts as the first package of projects move through construction. These efforts include the continued development of materials, briefing stakeholders and elected officials, and coordinating the execution of media strategies and outreach.
The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) needed to develop and implement a communication program aimed at informing residents and stakeholders about regional bike projects during the planning, design and construction phases.
To ensure an open, transparent public process and provide up-to-date public information, Southwest Strategies successfully coordinated several community meetings for residents and interested members of the public to provide input on the decision-making process, as well as talk with project team members and ask questions. To engage key stakeholders, we also coordinated numerous presentations to City Council districts, community planning groups and other organizations.
A variety of bilingual collateral materials were developed to provide information, invite the public to community meetings and encourage biking as a viable option for everyday travel. The team created project fact sheets, eblasts, display boards, postcards and detailed project maps to aid in outreach. Currently, 40 projects totaling about 77 miles of new bikeways are successfully underway in communities across San Diego County.
The North County Transit District (NCTD) moves more than 10 million passengers annually. In 2018, NCTD hired Southwest Strategies to develop and implement a long-term marketing and communication plan and assist with outreach and communications for its various business initiatives.
Southwest Strategies worked with NCTD to develop a five-year plan that strategically mapped out the agency’s marketing and communication goals, objectives and tactics. The plan provided an assessment of all NCTD services, including current marketing efforts and service challenges and plans for how to meet public transit needs and system goals.
One of the first tasks Southwest Strategies assisted NCTD with was the roll out of new online reservation and payment programs for their LIFT Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit riders. LIFT is an origin to destination service for people with disabilities who are unable to use bus and rail services due to their disability. Southwest Strategies conducted a mail-in survey that received more than 23 percent participation. The survey helped establish the population’s comfort level with technology, which informed best practices for rolling out the new programs. Using the data collected from the survey, Southwest Strategies created an outreach plan and collateral material designed to communicate the benefits of the new online platform, encourage LIFT riders to enroll in the new system and answer their frequently asked questions.
Southwest Strategies has helped California transportation agencies successfully reach their communication goals for more than two decades. From highways to transit, public education programs to complex infrastructure approvals, we’re who mobility leaders trust to get the job done.
Our senior leadership guides a talented group of more than 40 professionals.
We dedicate a specialized team – including an executive-level lead – to every project.
Chris Wahl has a long track record of success over the past 30+ years, helping secure and build more than $10 billion of infrastructure projects in the fields of energy, transportation, water and retail in California.
Stephanie Dell combines experience in government, community and media relations to deliver effective campaigns and assist in reputation management, crisis communication and land use entitlements.
Hope Reilly leads the SWS transportation outreach and communications practice. She oversees the strategic planning and implementation of comprehensive communications efforts for many of the state’s top transportation projects, programs and policies.
Jessica Luternauer specializes in developing and implementing strategic outreach and communication programs
to help clients secure land use entitlements and regulatory approvals.
Zach MacQuarrie executes the implementation of public outreach efforts for industry-leading transportation projects including regional transportation planning, construction outreach and mobility programs across the state
Ashley Brill utilizes her background in public affairs and media relations to manage public outreach and strategic communications for some of California’s leading transportation projects.
401 B Street, Suite 150
San Diego, CA 92101
858.541.7800
401 B Street, Suite 150
2491 Alluvial Ave, Unit 0350
Clovis, CA 93611
559.271.6824
2121 N. California Boulevard
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925.974.3306
