MARTA, CommuterAds team for innovative advertising initiative
Every time a bus passes an advertiser’s location of choice, a 15-second audio spot plays through onboard speakers. To reinforce the audio message, a visual text message is displayed simultaneously on the same bus marquee that also provides passengers with route information.
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and CommuterAds are launching a dynamic advertising partnership that offers a new communication tool and generates revenue for the transit system.
The company’s technology platform enables advertisers to connect directly with MARTA customers at specific times and locations using onboard bus monitors that scroll digital audio, visual and text messages.
The CommuterAds platform works like this: Every time a bus passes an advertiser’s location of choice, a 15-second audio spot plays through onboard speakers. To reinforce the audio message, a visual text message is displayed simultaneously on the same bus marquee that also provides passengers with route information. The accompanying visual text can include an advertiser’s website URL, address, phone number or call-to-action.
“MARTA has consistently been on the leading edge of innovation,” said Keith T. Parker, GM/CEO for the transit system. “This partnership with CommuterAds will allow us to communicate in an effective way with our customers and begin growing new revenue streams for the agency.”
CommuterAds currently partners with 11 transit authorities throughout the U.S. and is a 12-time, first place winner of The American Public Transportation Association’s annual Ad Wheel awards recognizing the best creative digital campaigns in North America.
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.