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3h ago

RTD Bans Ads on Bus and Train Windows to Improve Rider Visibility

The phased policy puts rider visibility ahead of ad dollars, taking effect for new contracts in 2026.

A train pulls into the Olde Town Arvada station along RTD's new G-Line on April 23, 2019. The station is the fifth stop from Union Station on the 11-mile G Line that will open April 26, taking people from Wheat Ridge to Union Station in 27 minutes, with stops in Arvada. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)
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Overview

  • The RTD Board approved the ban in a 9–4 vote on Tuesday night.
  • The restriction applies to advertising agreements signed after Jan. 1, 2026, and current wraps will remain until their contracts end.
  • Window-covering ads are installed on 493 buses, 128 light-rail vehicles and 48 commuter rail vehicles, according to agency records.
  • These ads generated about $786,000 from April through September 2025, roughly 42% of RTD’s ad revenue for that period, with total ad revenue falling from $4.9 million in 2023 to $3.1 million through September 2025.
  • RTD ended its contract with Lamar Advertising, is seeking a new ad manager, will phase out some digital station screens, and is confronting budget pressures that could force service cuts.