Willoughby Design hired to create marketing plan for downtown streetcar

The Kansas City Streetcar Authority on Thursday voted to hire Willoughby Design Inc. as the marketing firm for the downtown streetcar system.

The Kansas City design firm beat out two other area finalists for the job, said Chris Hernandez, a city spokesman. Willoughby still needs to negotiate a final contract, valued at $80,000 for the creative process. The downtown streetcar system, an initial two-mile stretch between Crown Center and the River Market, is scheduled to begin operating in 2015.

Willoughby will be responsible for creating the branding campaign, including the name for the system, colors and other marketing ideas. The firm has experience in public transportation work, having handled the marketing for the MAX bus system, including creating the MAX brand name.

This story was originally published January 30, 2014 at 1:41 PM with the headline "Willoughby Design hired to create marketing plan for downtown streetcar."