The 15-second commercials, which will begin airing later this week, encourage the region to “look alive, good times are ahead,” while creatively highlighting the benefits of the new line: access to employment, entertainment, and shopping without the hassles of traffic or the expense of gas and parking.
With a July 26 opening date now set, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) today unveiled three television ads to further increase public awareness of its new Silver Line rapid transit system.
The 15-second commercials, which will begin airing later this week, encourage the region to “look alive, good times are ahead,” while creatively highlighting the benefits of the new line: access to employment, entertainment, and shopping without the hassles of traffic or the expense of gas and parking.
“Now that opening day is in sight, it’s time to get a little excited,” said Lynn Bowersox, Metro assistant GM. “These ads are intended to showcase the benefits of the Silver Line and get the word out about the opening date.”
Metro has been conducting outreach to educate current and prospective Silver Line riders across the region for several months, distributing more than 100,000 pieces of information at stations and community events, sporting venues and area festivals. The information includes a Silver Line brochure and an updated Rider’s guide featuring the new system map. A special website, silverlinemetro.com, has detailed information regarding the five new stations, parking and biking, fares, and points of local interest.
“The campaign moves us from ‘how to ride’ to ‘why to ride’,” said Bowersox. "While keeping our message entertaining, we hope to make commuters and leisure travelers alike think about the opportunities that come along with the new Silver Line.”
In addition to the broadcast ads that will air on local television stations in English and Spanish, print ads will appear in July in five languages in community papers, business publications, and online news sites. Movie theater and radio promotions will roll out later this summer, as will post cards mailed to homes near the new stations. Metro will also utilize transit advertising space in its stations and on its buses this summer to promote the new Silver Line.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.