Embark unveiled a new rider-facing service-alert system and highlighted recent outreach and event partnerships that staff said helped grow ridership and public awareness of its transit services.

The system allows riders to subscribe to text or email alerts for service disruptions, detours and stop-specific notifications, and riders can customize alerts by route or stop, Embark staff said. Armando (moderator) introduced the marketing update; Craig (marketing staff) presented the system and other outreach highlights.

The marketing presentation emphasized community events and earned-media coverage used to promote services. Craig said the service-alert system was a "vital part of our customer outreach during our recent weather disruptions" and that more than 7,500 people had subscribed to date. Staff also described outreach at career events, a Spanish-language bond meeting, participation in the MLK parade and a panel appearance by Chip Nolan with the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Staff highlighted Rapid Northwest (the BRT line) milestones: Rapid turned one in December, surpassed 500,000 riders in January and received recognition in a ULI impact award. Craig credited the team and marketing for promoting those milestones and said media placements yielded about $40,000 in earned-media value.

Other business-development efforts cited included group-pass and convention partnerships with Visit OKC that staff said produced more than 11,000 streetcar rides under a show-and-go badge program, a Thunder game-day park-and-ride shuttle that provided over 6,500 rides, and a planned festival- and marathon-support schedule. Craig also said staff planned updates on river cruise season activity and work to improve the Embark Connect app tied to new scheduling software for MobilityPlus.

Trustees asked several follow-up questions. Trustee Cooper asked whether the hall-pass program had been expanded beyond minors; staff replied that a formal policy change would be required and had not been implemented at the time of the meeting. Director Jesse and other presenters confirmed staff would provide additional logistical information on upcoming event services.

The board received the marketing update as part of the program reports; no formal action was required beyond acknowledging the presentation. The presentation included photos and event metrics the marketing team will circulate to trustees by email, staff said.