Driving Change on the Kansas Turnpike
Kansas Turnpike Authority
The Kansas Turnpike Authority has adopted a cashless tolling system for its 236-mile stretch from Kansas City to Oklahoma, significantly improving the driver experience by removing the need for toll booth stops. Howerton+White partnered with the authority to reshape the brand identity for this initiative, uniting it with the existing KTAG services under the new "DriveKS" brand. To effectively address the varied user groups, including daily commuters and commercial drivers from different regions and technical backgrounds, we segmented the audience and developed personas to customize the messaging. This approach allowed us to identify tailored communication strategies for each demographic, addressing their specific needs and boosting engagement. "DriveKS" was selected as the brand name due to its straightforwardness and relevance, facilitating the introduction of the cashless system to users. This name, in alignment with KTAG, helped unify payment processing and account management under a single brand. The comprehensive branding strategy involved updating existing logos and visuals to ensure consistency with the new "DriveKS" identity. This initiative spanned multiple platforms, including an interactive website and a user-friendly mobile app, providing a seamless user experience that simplified toll payments and promoted KTAG adoption. Every aspect of this transition was supported by thorough analytics and continuous collaboration between Howerton+White and the Kansas Turnpike Authority, ensuring that the branding accurately represented the authority's progression while resonating with its users. This partnership played a crucial role in the successful launch of the new system and established a benchmark for future improvements.