FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2010-07-01

Travelers Marketing Announces a New Sponsorship for the Kansas Turnpike - State Farm Insurance to Sponsor “State Farm Safety Assist” Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 2010-07-01

Kansas — Travelers Marketing forged a new partnership between the Kansas Turnpike and State Farm Insurance, for sponsorship of the Turnpike’s motorist assistance patrol. This summer the newly named State Farm Safety Assist program will re-implement and expand the previous program that helps stranded motorists and makes Turnpike travel safer and easier.
Travelers Marketing LLC is an innovative marketing and advertising firm that creates effective, new and leading-edge communication networks to reach the traveling public. By working closely with state departments of transportation, turnpike authorities and private sector companies, Travelers Marketing is able to generate new advertising and sponsorship programs designed to advance public policies and achieve specific marketing objectives.
The Kansas Turnpike is just the latest roadway to benefit from sponsorship of motorist assistance programs. Travelers Marketing has worked with Turnpike authorities and DOT’s to arrange sponsorships of patrols with Florida’s Turnpike, the Florida Department of Transportation, the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Colorado’s E-470 and the New York State Department of Transportation.

This sponsorship by State Farm — the largest auto insurer in Kansas and the nation — provides financial resources needed to put the motorist assistance patrol back on the road. As part of the State Farm Safety Assist program, two vehicles will patrol the heavily traveled Kansas City to Topeka corridor. And, for the first time, a unit will patrol the Turnpike’s second-busiest stretch, the section from Wichita to the Oklahoma border. The State Farm Safety Assist program will operate this year from July 1 through Labor Day, Sept. 6. Discussions regarding sponsorship in future years are ongoing.

From 2000 to 2008, motorist assistance vehicles patrolled the Kansas Turnpike from Memorial Day through Labor Day, assisting drivers of broken-down vehicles, looking for debris on the road, and helping with accidents or other incidents. Due to the challenging operating environment created by the economy, the program was sidelined in 2008.

“Over the past several years, the Turnpike has put a high priority on reducing operating costs while still providing customers safe, high-quality service,” said Michael Johnston, Turnpike President/CEO. “We appreciate that the State Farm partnership allows the KTA to return Safety Assist to the highway and expand the area where it helps motorists.” Turnpike employees will patrol in red-and-white State Farm-sponsored vehicles from 6 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 3 to 7 p.m. Sundays.

The State Farm sponsorship in Kansas was announced Thursday, July 1, at news conferences in Topeka and Wichita.

For video of the State Farm Safety Assist in action, download footage at
www.travelersmarketing.com/KTA.


# # # #
About Travelers Marketing
Travelers Marketing is proud to be an industry leader in the development of transportation marketing programs since 1997. The company’s unique programs include Service Patrol Sponsorships, Service Plaza/Rest Area Sponsorships, Toll Plaza Signage, Toll Road Sampling and Service Plaza Billboards.

About the Kansas Turnpike
The Kansas Turnpike Authority is a privately financed business that operates as an independent instrumentality of the state, performing an essential government function, specifically providing toll-supported transportation services. Turnpike employees are charged with maintaining and improving the roadway and its function as a vital corridor to move people and goods in Kansas.

About State Farm
State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the United States and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm’s 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve more than 76 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.7 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com.

 

###

CONTACTS:
Sam McClain (407) 456-1917 smcclain@travelersmarketing.com

Since 1997, we have proudly lead the industry in the development of transportation sponsorship