Event Plan Confederation Parkway Bridge Opening

BACKGROUND:

The new Confederation Parkway bridge features bike lanes and walking paths. It is a people friendly bridge traversing Highway 403 with a maximum speed limit of 50 km.

EVENT:

An official opening ceremony will be held on Thursday, August 28 at 10 a.m. on the bridge.

This event will serve to thank partners involved in the project and inform the public it is open. Elements will include:

To acknowledge and thank GO Transit for their contribution of 1.9 million dollars. To highlight what the City has done to improve the quality of life in Mississauga; by

providing a people friendly bridge and a gateway to the City Centre. Improve infrastructure and provide a major transportation link. To inform media and residents the bridge is open.

COMMUNICATIONS PROJECT TEAM:

Elizabeth Hendricks, Public Affairs ConsultantCatherine Monast, Team Leader, Media & External Communications

GOALS:

1) To officially announce the opening of the Confederation Parkway Bridge to GTA media, trade publications, key stakeholders and the public.

2) To acknowledge and thank GO Transit for their partnership and contribution of 1.9 million dollars or 15% of the cost of the bridge.

3) To provide all partners with an opportunity to celebrate the completion of the bridge.4) To highlight that the City is implementing our strategic plan, strengthening

neighbourhoods, improving travel to the City Centre.5) To highlight what the City has done to improve the quality of life in Mississauga; by

providing a people friendly bridge and a gateway to the City Centre6) To educate the public that this is a people friendly bridge with multi-use lanes and a

designated bike lane which make it safe for pedestrians and cyclists7) To thank all the partners involved for working together (Graham Bros and their sub-

contractors, the Ministry of Transportation and City staff.)

OBJECTIVES:

1) Generate media coverage from three media sources. 2) To attain the attendance of one provincial MPP (or their representatives) at the launch; 3) To achieve attendance levels of 100 people.

POTENTIAL ISSUES:

Rain or strong winds may result in lower attendance levels. It is important to ensure the appropriate people are thanked.

KEY MESSAGES:

1. The City is implementing its strategic plan, strengthening neighbourhoods by connecting them to the city centre, and improving infrastructure

2. The Confederation Parkway Bridge features multi-use lanes for pedestrians and cyclists. 3. This people friendly bridge offers another route into the City Centre. 4. Bus transit will commence on September 2.

SECONDARY MESSAGING:

1. As part of a future cost saving measure for the extension of the BRT connection, GO Transit became a partner with the City. The length of the bridge was designed to accommodate two future lanes for the BRT to run beside the 403 underneath the bridge.

2. The bridge will become a new landmark for Mississauga's city centre. Curving landscaped walls with "MISSISSAUGA" lettering on the south side identify the gateway to downtown for drivers on the 403. At night, the letters are lit with blue LED lighting. Concealed deck edge lighting casts an even blue glow of light along the beams of the bridge and white light on the piers, which can be seen from a kilometre away on the 403, in both directions.

3. Other features include custom metallic grey anodised aluminium railings, raised medians with interlocking pavers, and various layers of accent lighting which provide a soft glow to the pedestrian walking areas and an attractive visual effect above the deck. The accent lighting utilizes high efficiency LEDs which have a very long life and are extremely low in energy usage.

TARGET AUDIENCES:

Members of Council City Manager, LT, ExLT Committees of Council (AAC, EAC) MPPs for Mississauga:

Bob Delaney (confirmed) Amrit Mangat (confirmed) Harinder Takhar (confirmed)

2

Dr. Kuldip Kular Vic Dhillon Peter Fonseca Amrit Mangat Tim Peterson Charles Sousa

Media (local, provincial, national, ethnic, business & trade) City Staff (T&W senior staff, BRT Office ) GO Transit Ministry of Transportation Project contractors and architects

MEASUREMENT METHODS:

Media coverage analysis including:1. Track the number of media attending the event.2. Track the amount of media coverage resulting from the event.3. Analyze media coverage (positive, negative, neutral)4. Number of event attendees.5. Feedback from City staff, stakeholders and partners attending the event.

PROGRAM:

Invitations were sent to MPPs, identified City of Mississauga staff and business stakeholders to attend the event. Invitations were mailed from communications on July 28. A reminder will be sent via email on Monday, August 25.

The Mayor and Commissioner Martin Powell will be given reserved parking on the bridge.

A tent will be set up on the side of the bridge to provide a view into the City Centre. An area for speeches will be set up with a podium, microphone and a riser, City of Mississauga flag and five chairs (for speakers).

20 chairs will be set up in front of the podium for guests who may wish to sit. Dependent upon the weather, booths will be set up in the tent or outside on the bridge. Tables with catered breakfast items and coffee, tea, juice, water will be set up. Four to five photo plaques of the bridge construction and a night photo of the lit bridge

will be displayed on easels. A staircase will be placed beside the railing (which separates the car lanes from the

pedestrian walkway) allowing guests to walk up and see the Mississauga sign on the landscaped wall in the southwest quadrant.

Counsellor Frank Dale will be the MC. Speeches from the Mayor and Commissioner Martin Powell and Peter Smith, Chairman of Go Transit.

Confirmed participants with display or vehicle include: o Hurontario Feasibility Studyo Smart Commute – Smart Commute car and a bicycleo BRT

3

o Mississauga Transit – New Flyer articulated buso Mississauga Transit Security – Dodge Charger Enforcement Car (cancelled last

minute)o Cycling Masterplan

PHOTO OPP:

Ribbon cutting by the Mayor. A 15 metre royal blue ribbon (3 – 4 inches wide) will be attached to the bridge railing on one side and run across the southbound lanes behind the podium to the light pole on the centre median. The audience and media will be facing the City Centre which will be in the background of the photo.

DIGNITARIES TO INVITE

Councillors, City Manager, Commissioners Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Lawrence Cannon Minister of Transportation Donna Cansfield GO Transit Officials

SPEAKERS:

Mayor McCallion Martin Powell, Commissioner, Transportation and Works Peter Smith, Chairman GO Transit MC: Counsellor Frank Dale, Ward 4

COMPONENTS OF LAUNCH:

Internal: Invitations to appropriate staff

External: Invitations:

o Media – media advisory (to be sent out provincially and to key trade and business publications)

o dignitaries – invitationso key stakeholders – invitations

***A reminder invitation will be sent out via email on Monday, August 25 by Communications

Updated information on Internet – Transit page

4