251002_ME_ODOT_Transit_Technical_Proposal_2.pdf

Prepared for

October 2, 2025

RFP: 578-26

Marketing and Conference Support, Stakeholder Engagement, Meeting Facilitation and Website Technical Proposal

Project Understanding We understand that the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is seeking a partner to support its Office of Transit and subrecipients with marketing, stakeholder engagement, website development services and conference support.. With more than 100 transit agencies across Ohio, many without in-house expertise, ODOT requires on-call support to create effective branding, manage campaigns, facilitate stakeholder and community conversations, and design accessible, user-friendly websites and brochures. These efforts will help rural and urban agencies communicate clearly, attract new riders and strengthen the visibility of transit as an essential service for Ohio communities.

Vendor Qualifications MurphyEpson has assembled a powerhouse team of professionals with extensive experience in transit marketing, stakeholder engagement, website design and public policy. The team will be led by Senior Strategist Stephanie Tresso, who will also serve as Project Manager and Contract Manager. She is supported by Principal-in- Charge Marie Keister, Senior Project Manager Lindsey Sanders, and Senior Art Director Erin Hanna, who bring proven expertise in strategic oversight, project management and creative direction.

To further strengthen the team, MurphyEpson has partnered with Kimberly Sharp, who brings deep expertise in transit, stakeholder engagement and consensus building, and John MacAdam, a seasoned website strategist with a longstanding history of delivering successful projects for ODOT.

MurphyEpson is uniquely positioned to serve as ODOT’s partner for this initiative because we combine decades of marketing, stakeholder engagement and communications expertise with a proven record of supporting transit systems across Ohio. Our approach is grounded in collaboration, creativity and accountability

– delivering high-quality, effective and accessible solutions that meet ODOT’s needs and strengthen the role of transit in communities.

More than

More than Marketing Expertise Our team has extensive experience developing campaigns that connect with diverse audiences and deliver measurable results.

From branding and logo development to brochures, vehicle branding, digital campaigns, advertising and video production, we help agencies tell their story in ways that attract riders and build community trust.

We have successfully guided rural and urban transit providers through rebranding, service launches and public education campaigns that make complex information clear and engaging.

Working directly with the ODOT Transit team, we supported the revamped website for the Community Action Transit System (CATS) in Pike County and led brand transformations for Wayne County (WayGo) and Washington County (CABL). These efforts included updated logos, brochures and refreshed graphics for websites and community outreach.

Beyond transit, MurphyEpson has supported large-scale marketing and PR campaigns such as with The Beta District, where we’ve elevated the brand through digital storytelling and targeted campaigns to position the corridor as Ohio’s hub for smart mobility innovation. In 2025, we also planned and executed the inaugural Ohio’s Future of Mobility Conference for The Beta District, managing every detail from program development and speaker coordination to venue logistics, branded collateral, registration and onsite support. The multi-day event brought together leaders, experts and partners from across Ohio and the nation, showcasing the region’s innovation ecosystem and reinforcing The Beta District’s role as a convener of mobility thought leadership.

Similarly, our work with North Coast involved building a complete brand identity and all corresponding collateral, including a new website, social media graphics, fact sheets and public-facing materials, unifying the effort’s image and improving its connection to the Cleveland community.

To further strengthen our ability to deliver event support, Kimberly Sharp will advise on program content and lead speaker outreach for events such as the OPTA/ODOT Office of Transit Annual Conference.

Kimberly will also contribute subject matter expertise in creative development and facilitation as needed, ensuring ODOT and its subrecipients receive comprehensive, well-rounded support.

Together, these projects demonstrate MurphyEpson’s ability to deliver marketing strategies that resonate at both the local and statewide level, combining creativity with deep experience in public-sector communications.

https://www.murphyepson.com/portfolio/beta-district https://www.thebetadistrict.com/ohios-future-of-mobility-conference-whats-next-for-our-region/ https://www.murphyepson.com/portfolio/north-coast

More than Stakeholder Engagement We are skilled facilitators who excel at helping agencies build consensus among elected officials, community leaders, and residents. MurphyEpson has designed and led workshops, facilitated difficult conversations and built consensus for new governance and service improvements. Our collaborative methods ensure voices are heard while aligning diverse perspectives toward a shared goal of better mobility.

Marie Keister brings decades of experience guiding public-sector clients through high-profile, and often sensitive, community conversations. Marie recently facilitated the process that led to an agreement on new transit governance models for transit in Wayne and Washington counties. She also facilitated the Steering Committee and engagement process for the Statewide Transit Plan. She has facilitated similar efforts for multiple statewide ODOT planning efforts and transit systems throughout Ohio. Marie is known for her ability to create space for constructive dialogue while keeping discussions focused on outcomes.

Stephanie Tresso also has extensive facilitation experience, particularly in managing complex stakeholder dynamics where elected officials, residents, and agency staff must align.

She has facilitated workshops and advisory committees for state agencies, metropolitan planning organizations and local governments, helping diverse groups work through challenges to arrive at shared solutions. Stephanie also led the marketing for the national Safe Routes to School conference.

In addition to facilitating conversations, MurphyEpson develops eye-catching collateral to promote events, encourage participation and clearly communicate key messages to the public. From flyers, postcards and social graphics to meeting boards, fact sheets and presentation materials, we ensure every engagement is supported by professional, accessible materials that attract attention and build understanding.

With Kimberly Sharp adding subject matter expertise in transit facilitation and stakeholder engagement, MurphyEpson offers a well-rounded team that can help ODOT and its subrecipients design effective engagement processes, manage challenging conversations, and build lasting coalitions around better mobility.

More than Website Development Our team has designed and redesigned websites for public agencies and transit providers that are modern, user-friendly and compliant with accessibility standards. We know how to balance aesthetics with function, ensuring sites are easy to navigate, ADA-accessible and optimized to communicate services and civil rights information.

We also work closely with agencies to ensure that their staff can manage and update their websites long after launch.

Working directly with the ODOT Transit team, MurphyEpson recently supported the revamp of the Community Action Transit System (CATS) website in Pike County and developed the brands and updated website graphics for WayGo (Wooster) and CABL (Washington County) transit agency transformations. These projects not only improved the look and feel of each site and strengthened the ability of rural transit systems to communicate essential rider information and meet federal requirements.

Beyond these efforts, MurphyEpson led the North Coast brand launch, which included designing a new website. We have supported numerous ODOT-related websites by developing graphics, content and design strategies that align with state standards while creating clear, user-friendly experiences for the public.

MurphyEpson delivers websites that are professional and visually appealing.

They function as easy-to-understand communication tools for transit agencies and their riders.

https://clevelandnorthcoast.com/

Experience Designing Websites, Client References

MurphyEpson and MacAdam Consulting have partnered together to work on several client websites over the past five years, including:

Cleveland North Coast Connector City of Cleveland clevelandnorthcoast.com

Contact: Vickie Wildeman, PE, Project Manager, Osborn Engineering 440-413-6461 vwildeman@osborn-eng.com

The Beta District (redesign, ongoing maintenance and updates) Cities of Dublin and Marysville, Union County www.thebetadistrict.com

Contact: Lindsay Weisenauer, Director, Community Relations and Public Information, City of Dublin 614-410-4504 lweisenauer@dublin.oh.us

Home Road Water Plant and Transmission Mains City of Columbus cbuswater.com/home-road-water-plant

Contact: George Zonders, Public Relations Specialist City of Columbus Gjzonders@columbus.gov

John MacAdam’s additional website experience over the past five years, includes:

gotquestions.org bowery.org/timeline mljtrust.org

More than https://clevelandnorthcoast.com/ mailto:?subject= https://www.thebetadistrict.com/ mailto:?subject= https://cbuswater.com/home-road-water-plant/ mailto:Gjzonders%40columbus.gov%20?subject= https://www.gotquestions.org/ https://www.bowery.org/timeline/ https://www.mljtrust.org/

More than Additionally, the MurphyEpson team has worked on the following websites, project pages and landing pages over the past five years:

• ODOT’s Older Driver Program transportation.ohio.gov/OlderDrivers

• ODOT’s Transport Ohio Plan transportation.ohio.gov/TO

• Ohio’s Freight Advisory Committee transportation.ohio.gov/programs/transport-ohio/fac

• ODOT’s Access Ohio 2045 Plan access.ohio.gov

• ODOT’s Walk.Bike.Ohio Plan walk.ohio.gov

• ODOT’s Your Move Active Transportation Safety Education Campaign YourMove.ohio.gov

• ODOT’s Asset Management Plan transportation.ohio.gov/programs/assetmanagement/resources/ asset-management-plan

• City of Cleveland, Thrive 105-93 Plan thrive105-93.com

• Central Ohio Community Land Trust www.coclt.org

• Yeager Airport Environmental Impact Study yeagerairporteis.com

• Greene Forward greeneforward.com

• City of Columbus Olentangy Trail Completion columbusrecparks.com/facilities/trails/greenways/olentangy-trail

• Move to Prosper (update in process) movetoprosper.org http://transportation.ohio.gov/OlderDrivers http://transportation.ohio.gov/TO https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/programs/transport-ohio/fac http://access.ohio.gov http://walk.ohio.gov http://YourMove.ohio.gov https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/programs/assetmanagement/resources/asset-management-plan https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/programs/assetmanagement/resources/asset-management-plan http://thrive105-93.com http://www.coclt.org http://yeagerairporteis.com http://greeneforward.com https://columbusrecparks.com/facilities/trails/greenways/olentangy-trail/ http://movetoprosper.org

Experience with Public Sector Clients The MurphyEpson team brings a depth of knowledge in the public arena, primarily focusing on infrastructure projects, that is combined with our decades of marketing, PR, branding, research and engagement throughout Ohio. Terms like “infrastructure,” “controversy,” and “community consensus” don’t intimidate us. We know how to put technical jargon into English and create compelling messages and imagery that make it easier for the public to understand, have their voice heard – and shape positive outcomes.

In fact, MurphyEpson, and sister company Engage Public Affairs, have worked with 52 of the top 500 US-based engineering design firms in the world, according to Engineering News Record.

Here’s a sampling of our project work in recent years. (Prime or partner consultants are noted in parentheses, where applicable.)

• Access Ohio 2050 Ohio’s Long-Range Transportation Plan & Implementation;

Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) (High Street Consulting) -worked with all metropolitan planning organizations

• Active Transportation/Safe Routes to Schools Guidelines and Plans; ODOT, numerous districts (multiple prime consultants) – worked with all 12 ODOT districts and more than 50+ Ohio school districts

• Data Governance Program; ODOT (DTS)

• Mobility Ohio; ODOT (RLS) – worked with OMEGA and several state agencies

• Ohio Airport Focus Study; ODOT (CDM Smith)

• Ohio Strategic Highway Safety Plan; ODOT (Cambridge Systematics and Burgess + Niple)

• Ohio Statewide Transit Needs Study; ODOT (Nelson\Nygaard)

• Ohio Traffic Incident Management (OTIM); ODOT (Drive Engineering)

• Project Management Training; ODOT (Engage) – all ODOT Districts

• Systems Engineering Analysis (SEA); ODOT (AECOM)

• Transport Ohio, Ohio’s Strategic Freight Plan; ODOT (Cambridge Systematics and CPCS)

• Transportation Asset Management (TAM) Change Management; ODOT

• Transportation Information Management Systems (TIMS); ODOT

• Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Guidebook & EducationMaterials; ODOT (Gannett-Fleming)

• US 33 Corridor Plan; ODOT (Jacobs)

• Walk. Bike. Ohio., Statewide Bike & Pedestrian Plan; ODOT (Alta)

• I-70/71 and I-71/670 Columbus Crossroads; ODOT (Kokosing)

• Communication & Graphics Task Order; DriveOhio (HNTB)

• Connected Marysville; DriveOhio (MH Corbin)

• Strategic Transportation and Development Analysis (Cambridge Systematics)

More than • Ohio CV/AV Systems Engineering Playbook; DriveOhio (AECOM)

• Rural Automated Driving Systems (ADS); DriveOhio (CDM Smith)

• I-70 Truck Automation; DriveOhio (HNTB)

• I-71 SmartLane; ODOT, District 6 (Jacobs)

• E. Broad Street Improvements – Phases I & II; ODOT District 6/City of Columbus (TranSystems - Phase I, Burgess & Niple – Phase II)

• Hope-Memorial Bridge, Lorain-Carnegie Bridge; ODOT District 12 (Burgess & Niple)

• North Coast Connector and Master Plan; City of Cleveland, ODOT District 12, ODOT Office of Transportation and Economic Development (Osborn Engineering)

• Smart Columbus; U.S. Department of Transportation, City of Columbus (in collaboration with HNTB, GPD and CJI, Inc.)

• Clark County Transportation Study; CCSTCC (TranSystems)

• Lordstown Smart Logistics Hub Feasibility Study – The LIVE Zone;

Eastgate Council of Governments (Michael Baker International)

• Local Road Safety Plan; Eastgate (Cambridge Systematics, WSP)

• Central Ohio Greenways; (Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission

(MORPC))

• Insight2050 and Corridor Concepts; MORPC

• Rapid Speed Transportation Initiative (RSTI); MORPC (AECOM & WSP)

• Local Road Safety Plan; TMACOG (Cambridge Systematics)

• Delaware County Regional Planning Commission Strategic Plan; DCRPC

• Vision Zero Columbus; City of Columbus (Toole Design)

• Multiple Complete Streets/Road Diet and Construction Projects; City of Columbus (HDR, Baker, Arcadis, B&N, Korda, Stantec)

• Strategic Plans and Other Communications/Engagement Support; cities of Delaware, Dublin, Upper Arlington, Powell, Westerville, Columbus, Gahanna;

Franklin, Clark, Union and Delaware counties

• Multiple Long-Range Transit Plans; COTA, Delaware, Middletown, Greater Dayton RTA

• Multiple Airport Noise Studies, EIS and Master Plans; Rickenbacker, John Glenn International,The Ohio State University, Columbus; Akron-Canton;

Springfield; Charleston, WV

• Multiple Advisory Committees; facilitated or facilitating the AO45 and AO50 Steering Committees, Ohio State Airport Advisory Committee, Freight Advisory Committee, Transit Needs Study Advisory Group, Ohio Airports Focus Study Advisory Group, Strategic Highway Safety Plan Steering Committee and Older Road User Action Team, multiple advisory groups for MORPC and transit initiatives around Ohio.

More than John MacAdams’ public sector highlights include:

• Consultant for Tennessee DOT assisting with an RFP development for video analytics.

• Principal investigator for FHWA project “Assessing Traffic Management Systems.”

• Partnering with MurphyEpson on multiple websites for the City of Columbus, ODOT, WVDOT and The Beta District.

• While at ODOT, John also worked in coordination with:

» Ohio EMA

» City of Columbus

» County Engineers (multiple)

» Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission

» PennDOT

» Michigan DOT

» AASHTO

» KYTC

» Most MPOs in Ohio

Kimberly Sharp’s highlights include:

Twenty years of experience in urban planning, development and public policy. Kim has built a career leading large-scale initiatives that drive regional growth and improve community infrastructure. Her expertise lies in managing complex projects, fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration, and executing long-term development strategies.

Past examples include the Flagstaff Regional Plan (2012) adopted by the voters of Northern Arizona by 70% approval; the Westerville Comprehensive Community Plan (2016); and most recently, the Central Ohio LinkUS Mobility Initiative, a transformative $8B program to enhance transportation infrastructure across Central Ohio, of which she played a key role.

As the elected Chair of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Columbus District for 2025-2027, Kim is committed to promoting sustainable development and advancing planning initiatives that foster regional growth. With an undergraduate in Architecture (Ohio State University), a Master of City and Regional Planning (Virginia Commonwealth University) and AICP certified, Kim is dedicated to creating communities that are resilient, equitable, and forward-thinking.

Organizational Chart

Marie Keister MurphyEpson Principal-in-Charge

Lindsey Sanders MurphyEpson Senior Project Manager

John MacAdam MacAdam Consulting Web Developer

Kimberly Sharp Sharp Point LLC Strategy & Engagement Consultant

Erin Hanna MurphyEpson Senior Art Director

Stephanie Tresso MurphyEpson Senior Project Manager & Contract Manager

Staffing Plan

Role: Principal-in-Charge

Responsibilities: Strategic counsel, facilitation (Task 1)

Availability: 4 hours per week

Role: Senior Project Manager & Contract Manager

Responsibilities: Strategic counsel, facilitation (Tasks 1 and 2)

Availability: 4 hours per week

Role: Senior Project Manager

Responsibilities: Day-to-day project management, marketing and stakeholder engagement (Tasks 1-3)

Availability: 16 hours per week

Role: Senior Art Director

Responsibilities: Art direction and graphic design services (Tasks 1-3)

Availability: 8 hours per week

Role: Web Development

Responsibilities: Website development (Task 3)

Availability: 4 hours per week

Role: Strategy & Engagement Consultant

Responsibilities: Stakeholder engagement and marketing (Tasks 1 and 2)

Availability: 4 hours per week (TB1)

Work Plan NOTE: The following work plan provides an average sample of hours for the three tasks of one transit agency. Not a cumulative amount.

Our proposed work plan is rooted in collaboration, creativity and accountability. We use a Discover, Develop and Deliver framework that emphasizes early input, clear strategies and measurable outcomes. This framework will guide the three categories: marketing and branding, stakeholder engagement and website design.

Discovery and Planning (Nov. 2025 – Feb. 2026) + Ongoing Project Management (Nov. 2025 – July 2027) - $20,000 per agency | $200,000 TOTAL (2-year contract length)

In the discovery phase, our team will conduct a project kickoff to align with agency leadership on goals, audiences and success measures. We will gather input from stakeholders, including staff, board members and local officials to anticipate engagement challenges and opportunities. At the same time, we will conduct a communications audit to evaluate existing branding and digital presence, benchmarking peer transit systems to identify best practices. The result of this phase will be a project work plan with timeline and milestones, a stakeholder engagement matrix and a baseline assessment of agency communications to guide subsequent phases.

Task 1: Marketing and Brand Development (March 2026 – July 2027) - $40,000 per agency | $400,000 TOTAL (2-year contract length)

Building on insights from the discovery session, MurphyEpson will design campaigns tailored to introduce new services, educate riders and increase public awareness of transit.

MurphyEpson has successfully guided rural and urban providers through rebranding, service launches and statewide initiatives, including Wayne County’s WayGo, Washington County’s CABL and more. Our marketing-focused team will create strategies that address both agency transitions into public transit and new service expansions. We will deliver a comprehensive brand package that includes logo design, style guidelines and photography to ensure agencies present a consistent, professional image. Supporting materials will include a campaign toolkit with brochures, advertisements, social media templates and an implementation calendar to streamline rollout.

More than Task 2: Stakeholder Engagement (June 2026 – July 2027) - $20,000 per agency | $200,000 TOTAL (2-year contract length)

Our team of experienced facilitators, including Marie Keister, Stephanie Tresso and Kimberly Sharp, will lead this phase. We will conduct in-person workshops designed to equip agency staff with tools and messaging strategies to promote transit effectively. Additionally, we will organize in-person workshops with local elected officials, creating an opportunity for consensus-building and support for agency initiatives. These sessions will be supported by high-quality collateral such as flyers, presentations and digital graphics to encourage participation and ensure messages resonate with all audiences. Following each session, participants will receive summary reports capturing key insights, and we will measure outcomes through engagement metrics to demonstrate effectiveness.

Task 3: Website Design and Digital Presence (July 2027 – July 2027) - $20,000 per agency | $200,000 TOTAL (2-year contract length)

MurphyEpson and MacAdam Consulting bring deep experience in designing modern, accessible websites that balance aesthetics with functionality. Our team will redesign an existing 4-page agency website to modernize layout, improve usability and ensure ADA/WCAG compliance.

At the same time, we will develop a new 6-page site for an agency establishing a digital presence, incorporating intuitive navigation and mobile-friendly design. Throughout this process, our team will create wireframes and design mockups, integrate provided content into a user-centered layout and conduct usability testing to confirm clarity and ease of navigation. Each agency will also receive a training session to ensure staff can confidently manage and update their websites after launch.

More than Project Control When managing projects, client service and coordination are top priority. Communication is frequent in order to develop and maintain an effective and efficient relationship.

After determining the budget, scope and schedule, MurphyEpson and the project team will go through the steps noted above, creating a work plan, including timelines and checklists to ensure thoroughness. Each step will be documented through the invoicing process. Budget status will be documented through the invoicing process. Budget status will be reported monthly.

Project Reporting and Interface with Staff Nothing exists in a vacuum. That is why regular team meetings (either virtually or in person) and conference calls are important to identify issues and adjust resources, staffing, deadlines and goals, as needed. For update meetings, we prepare agendas and facilitate the discussion, coordinate meeting logistics and forward appropriate materials to attendees. After every meeting, we generate and distribute meeting notes.

Work will be conducted within designated budget parameters. Cost constraints are expected; and our experienced team strategically maximizes return for each client dollar expended. If a task comes in under budget, the client is only billed for work completed.

DBE Participation Plan We understand that there is not a DBE expectation for this contract. As a woman-owned, small business, MurphyEpson understands and values working with a diverse group of vendors.

A cost proposal is also included for three categories:

• Marketing

• Stakeholder Engagement

• Website Development

NOTE: The cost proposal represents the average cost per transit agency for all three tasks. We know this may vary based on the individual needs of each transit agency, so the MurphyEpson team will work with the ODOT Transit team on tailoring budgets based on need.

Thank you

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