TransLink rolling out new digital displays to enhance service alerts and advertising
There will be an expansion of TransLink’s service alerts, emergency messaging, and other customer updates through the installation of new advertising signage.
Metro Vancouver’s public transit authority announced today that it has selected Pattison Outdoor Advertising as its new main provider of advertising services, replacing its previous longtime contractor, Lamar Advertising.
This spans the bus fleet, SkyTrain, SeaBus, and the West Coast Express, with the new agreement with The Jim Pattison Group’s advertising division providing more real-time updates to passengers, while also generating additional revenue to support public transit services.
This will create new dynamic brand and product ads, replace aging overhead platform advertising television screens with high-definition displays, and reduce the use of paper posters, which will cut down on the need for physical on-site changes using labour.
Upon inquiry, a TransLink spokesperson told Daily Hive Urbanized there are no immediate plans to install digital ads onboard buses, but the public transit authority will continue looking for more opportunities in the future. They are exploring installing more digital ads inside the SeaBus terminals.
“This new agreement with PATTISON Outdoor will help generate vital revenue to support transit services across our region. It will also effectively modernize our communication tools and deliver a better experience for our customers,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn in a statement.
TransLink’s budget for the current fiscal year indicates it is projecting nearly $43 million in “other transit revenues,” which includes advertising, park and ride fee revenue, and fare infraction revenue. According to the public transit authority, advertising is the largest source of non-fare revenue for public transit systems worldwide.
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