Background

Maritime Metro is a publicly owned and operated fixed route transit system serving the cities of Manitowoc and Two Rivers. The City of Manitowoc took over the management operations of the privately owned Manitowoc Motor Coach Company in January 1978. From 1978 through 1999, Maritime Metro was called the Manitowoc Transit System.

In 1992, Maritime Metro initiated paratransit services under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This is a curb-to-curb service that provides transportation to the disabled population in the community that is unable to ride the fixed route service. Maritime Metro currently contracts these services to a local provider.

In 1998, a former bank drive-thru was remodeled and became Maritime Metro Transit's first Intermodal Transfer Center. Eventually, the needs of the transit system outgrew the facility, so the old facility was demolished and a new center was built on the same location. On October 24, 2012, a ribbon cutting event was held at the newly constructed Transfer Center at 915 S 11th St.

 

General Information

Maritime Metro Transit is a division of the Department of Public Infrastructure. The Transit Manager reports to the Director of Public Infrastructure  / City Engineer involving all City related matters and to the Public Infrastructure Committee of the City of Manitowoc, which is the assigned standing committee for transit policy. Ultimately, the final decision on transit matters rests with the Mayor and Manitowoc City Council.

The transit system currently staffs 17 bus drivers (11 full-time and 6 part-time), as well as one full-time route supervisor and two part-time clerks. The transit system is directly overseen by the Transit Manager. The transit system also has two full-time mechanics that are overseen by the Fleet Manager, whose time is pro-rated between Maritime Metro Transit and the Department of Public Infrastructure.
 

Ridership

Ridership totals include fixed-route passenger totals for each demographic as well as transfers. Totals do not include paratransit rides.  Ridership peaked in 1983 at 401,925 rides.  Recent ridership totals were:

• 2015 - 326,246 rides
• 2016 - 318,691 rides
• 2017 - 300,120 rides
• 2018 - 315,001 rides
• 2019 - 321,834 rides