SORTA Metro

Work type: Digital / Print / / Video / Website

Transforming Cincinnati's Public Transit Landscape

Since 2016, AFFIRM Agency has partnered with the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) to revitalize Metro, Cincinnati's primary bus system. Together, we've navigated challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, to not only recover but also exceed previous ridership levels. Our collaborative efforts have redefined public transportation in the region, introducing innovative services and infrastructure improvements that have set new standards for transit agencies nationwide.

General Brand Your Way to Go MetroNow! Sports Partnerships Get Up and Go

General Brand

General Branding

AFFIRM Agency played a key role in helping SORTA Metro successfully market their rebrand and service improvements by executing a comprehensive, multi-channel campaign that elevated the transit authority’s refreshed identity across the Greater Cincinnati area. The strategy included eye-catching outdoor advertising, impactful print collateral, and creative bus wrap designs that transformed Metro’s fleet into moving billboards. AFFIRM also developed engaging digital display ads to capture audiences online and forged a strategic partnership with Red Bike to extend the brand’s visibility and reinforce its commitment to sustainable urban mobility. This integrated approach ensured consistent brand messaging across all touchpoints, driving awareness and public enthusiasm for the new Metro.

Video

Bus Wrap Designs

Outdoor

Red Bike Partnership

Outdoor Digital sign

Digital Display

Play Animated Ads

Metro Delivered Campaign

“You asked for it… Metro delivered” was the theme carried through to all campaign materials and showcased how Metro delivered on the highlights mentioned. This campaign reinforced Metro’s commitment to its riders and all of Hamilton County. In addition, Metro shared how riders helped Metro lead the nation in post-pandemic ridership recovery. This campaign was extended to all media tactics including outdoor, print, radio, online, and more one-offs that were requested. AFFIRM was able to plan, implement, and create the campaign with just a few weeks’ notice.

Video

Icons

Outdoor

Digital Display

Play Animated Ads

Your Way to Go

Your Way to Go Campaign

With the start of the new year, it was time for a fresh marketing campaign encouraging Hamilton County to ride Metro. AFFIRM began creating a new general brand campaign encouraging people to ride Metro to promote how Metro is Your Way To Go. We created headlines that went along with Cincinnati traditions, highlighting the great atmosphere and things to do in Hamilton County. This campaign showcases fun layouts and imagery, bringing a new twist and lightheartedness to the general brand campaigns. From Get Up & Go to Metro Delivered, this offers a new and exciting way to promote that Metro is Your Way To Go. We extended this to print, radio, outdoor, and online.

Outdoor

Landing page

Digital Display

Play Animated Ads

Digital Outdoor

Print

Bus Info Screen

Outdoor Advertising

MetroNow!

In 2022, Metro asked AFFIRM to design the branding for its new mobility-on-demand service starting in Spring 2023. Leveraging the look and feel developed for REINVENTING METRO, we created a bold brand that helped to further the message that there’s something new and exciting happening with Metro. The METRO NOW! logo is being used in a number of different ways to promote the new service, including online, video, print, and outdoor.

Branding Design

Brand Usage Guide

Vehicle Wrap Design

Landing Page design

Video

Digital Display

Play Animated Ads

Outdoor

metro-now-campaign deliverables ww bulletin

Direct Mail

Sports Partnerships

AFFIRM plans and implements strategic partnerships for Metro with the Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball team and F.C. Cincinnati professional soccer team. Each year, we incorporate the current running campaign to generate several creative deliverables for the transit service.

Reds Bus Wrap

Reds Bus Extended Kong

Reds Stadium Concourse Signage

Reds Partnership Stadium Concourse Signage

FC Cincy Partnership Stadium Signage

FC Cincy Partnership Bus Extended Kong

FC Cincy Partnership Bus Wrap

FC Cincy Animated Stadium Signage

Get Up and Go

After years of success with our Reinventing Metro campaign, Metro asked AFFIRM to develop a campaign that would encourage choice riders to ride Metro for leisure. We implemented a new campaign that included digital ads, print ads, radio, video, and outdoor billboards. We also continued our successful partnerships with the Cincinnati Reds and FC Cincinnati, as well as the downtown Cincinnati ice rink. The campaign was a success, as ridership saw a 32% increase over the previous year, exceeding pre- COVID-19 ridership on local routes.