diff --git a/migrations/0007_roadmap_metadata.sql b/migrations/0007_roadmap_metadata.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bde60b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/0007_roadmap_metadata.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+-- Roadmap items gain an optional metadata_text field — a short admin-set
+-- narrative cue shown in the route card's hover expansion. Free-form,
+-- ~60 chars suggested in admin helper text. NULL when not set; UI hides
+-- the line in that case.
+
+ALTER TABLE roadmap_items ADD COLUMN metadata_text TEXT;
diff --git a/src/components/admin/RoadmapTab.astro b/src/components/admin/RoadmapTab.astro
index ce6546f..db42c6b 100644
--- a/src/components/admin/RoadmapTab.astro
+++ b/src/components/admin/RoadmapTab.astro
@@ -66,6 +66,20 @@ const grouped: Record<Status, RoadmapItemWithAttribution[]> = {
         <textarea id="description" name="description" class="input body-md" rows="3">{editing?.description ?? ''}</textarea>
       </div>
 
+      <div class="field">
+        <label for="metadata_text" class="label-sm field-label">Hover note (~60 chars)</label>
+        <input
+          type="text"
+          id="metadata_text"
+          name="metadata_text"
+          class="input body-md"
+          value={editing?.metadata_text ?? ''}
+          placeholder="e.g. Open question on key custody · Council input wanted"
+          maxlength="120"
+        />
+        <span class="body-sm muted">A short narrative cue shown on hover in /roadmap. Optional.</span>
+      </div>
+
       <fieldset class="attribution-grid">
         <legend class="label-sm field-label">Attributed members (who shaped this)</legend>
         {cabUsers.map(u => (
@@ -183,4 +197,6 @@ const grouped: Record<Status, RoadmapItemWithAttribution[]> = {
     padding: 0;
   }
   .action-link:hover { color: var(--on-surface-variant); border-bottom: none; }
+
+  .muted { color: var(--on-surface-muted); }
 </style>
diff --git a/src/lib/db.ts b/src/lib/db.ts
index 0ef8e12..4edba6f 100644
--- a/src/lib/db.ts
+++ b/src/lib/db.ts
@@ -675,6 +675,7 @@ export interface RoadmapItem {
   target: string | null;
   display_order: number;
   shipped_at: string | null;
+  metadata_text: string | null;   // short narrative cue shown on hover in /roadmap
   created_at: string;
   updated_at: string;
 }
@@ -689,11 +690,12 @@ export function createRoadmapItem(data: {
   status: RoadmapStatus;
   target?: string | null;
   display_order?: number;
+  metadata_text?: string | null;
 }): number {
   const shipped_at = data.status === 'shipping' ? new Date().toISOString().slice(0, 19).replace('T', ' ') : null;
   const r = db.prepare(`
-    INSERT INTO roadmap_items (title, description, status, target, display_order, shipped_at)
-    VALUES (?,?,?,?,?,?)
+    INSERT INTO roadmap_items (title, description, status, target, display_order, shipped_at, metadata_text)
+    VALUES (?,?,?,?,?,?,?)
   `).run(
     data.title,
     data.description,
@@ -701,6 +703,7 @@ export function createRoadmapItem(data: {
     data.target ?? null,
     data.display_order ?? 0,
     shipped_at,
+    data.metadata_text ?? null,
   );
   return Number(r.lastInsertRowid);
 }
@@ -715,6 +718,7 @@ export function updateRoadmapItem(id: number, data: {
   status: RoadmapStatus;
   target: string | null;
   display_order: number;
+  metadata_text?: string | null;
 }): { shippedNow: boolean } {
   const current = db.prepare('SELECT status, shipped_at FROM roadmap_items WHERE id = ?')
     .get(id) as { status: RoadmapStatus; shipped_at: string | null } | undefined;
@@ -728,9 +732,9 @@ export function updateRoadmapItem(id: number, data: {
   db.prepare(`
     UPDATE roadmap_items
        SET title = ?, description = ?, status = ?, target = ?, display_order = ?,
-           shipped_at = ?, updated_at = datetime('now')
+           shipped_at = ?, metadata_text = ?, updated_at = datetime('now')
      WHERE id = ?
-  `).run(data.title, data.description, data.status, data.target, data.display_order, shipped_at, id);
+  `).run(data.title, data.description, data.status, data.target, data.display_order, shipped_at, data.metadata_text ?? null, id);
 
   return { shippedNow };
 }
diff --git a/src/pages/admin/index.astro b/src/pages/admin/index.astro
index e3294ea..8ca3a6e 100644
--- a/src/pages/admin/index.astro
+++ b/src/pages/admin/index.astro
@@ -195,17 +195,18 @@ if (Astro.request.method === 'POST') {
 
   // ── Roadmap ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
   } else if (action === 'create_roadmap' || action === 'update_roadmap') {
-    const title       = String(data.get('title') ?? '').trim();
-    const description = String(data.get('description') ?? '').trim();
-    const status      = String(data.get('status') ?? '') as RoadmapStatus;
-    const target      = String(data.get('target') ?? '').trim() || null;
-    const displayOrder = Number(data.get('display_order') ?? 0);
+    const title         = String(data.get('title') ?? '').trim();
+    const description   = String(data.get('description') ?? '').trim();
+    const status        = String(data.get('status') ?? '') as RoadmapStatus;
+    const target        = String(data.get('target') ?? '').trim() || null;
+    const displayOrder  = Number(data.get('display_order') ?? 0);
+    const metadataText  = String(data.get('metadata_text') ?? '').trim() || null;
     const attributedIds = data.getAll('attributed_user_ids').map(v => Number(v)).filter(Boolean);
 
     if (!title || !['shipping','in_beta','exploring','considering'].includes(status)) {
       formError = 'Title and status are required.';
     } else if (action === 'create_roadmap') {
-      const id = createRoadmapItem({ title, description, status, target, display_order: displayOrder });
+      const id = createRoadmapItem({ title, description, status, target, display_order: displayOrder, metadata_text: metadataText });
       setRoadmapAttributions(id, attributedIds);
       if (status === 'shipping') recordActivity(user.id, 'roadmap_shipped', 'roadmap', id);
       return Astro.redirect('/admin?tab=roadmap&msg=roadmap_created');
@@ -213,7 +214,7 @@ if (Astro.request.method === 'POST') {
       const id = Number(data.get('roadmap_id'));
       if (id) {
         const { shippedNow } = updateRoadmapItem(id, {
-          title, description, status, target, display_order: displayOrder,
+          title, description, status, target, display_order: displayOrder, metadata_text: metadataText,
         });
         setRoadmapAttributions(id, attributedIds);
         if (shippedNow) recordActivity(user.id, 'roadmap_shipped', 'roadmap', id);
@@ -284,11 +285,11 @@ function moveRoadmapItem(id: number, dir: 'up' | 'down'): void {
   const other = sameStatus[swapIdx];
   updateRoadmapItem(item.id, {
     title: item.title, description: item.description, status: item.status,
-    target: item.target, display_order: other.display_order,
+    target: item.target, display_order: other.display_order, metadata_text: item.metadata_text,
   });
   updateRoadmapItem(other.id, {
     title: other.title, description: other.description, status: other.status,
-    target: other.target, display_order: item.display_order,
+    target: other.target, display_order: item.display_order, metadata_text: other.metadata_text,
   });
 }