Your Tax Dollars, Your Transit: Route 1 Discussion Open for Feedback
The City of Two Rivers contributes annually to support Route 1 of the Maritime Metro Transit (MMT) system, a bus route operated by the City of Manitowoc that connects the two communities.
Route 1 provides 20,000 – 30,000 rides per year (not riders, but rides). A "ride" is when a person gets on and has their pass scanned. MMT does not collect addresses of its passengers. It includes 75 stops throughout Manitowoc and Two Rivers.
Two Rivers currently contributes $156,000 per year toward Route 1 operations. This funding comes from the General Fund (property taxes). This amount has increased by 44% since 2020, from $108,000 to $156,000.
The City’s portion covers driver wages, fuel, and maintenance, not bus purchases or other capital costs.
While this service remains valuable to some riders, it represents a notable annual cost escalation at a time when the City faces new state-mandated expenses and unfunded mandates. Any reduction in funding could result in Route 1 being discontinued altogether.
As part of the 2026 City budget process, City Hall requests public input on if this is a wise use of General Fund property tax dollars or not.
| 
