BUSINESS EMPLOYER INFORMATION Employers - give your employees free transportation at little cost to you! Maritime Metro's Commuter Benefit Program helps you attract and keep good employees by providing them with an inexpensive benefit - a Metro Money Card! The Metro Money Card is a monthly bus pass from Maritime Metro which offers unlimited rides for a calendar month plus special offers at several of the lakeshore's best businesses! The commuter benefit allows employers to give their workers up to $65 per month to cover transit commuting costs as a tax-free benefit. Alternatively, employers can allow employees to pay for commuter benefits with a payroll deduction, or they can share these costs with employees by paying part of the commuter benefit and letting employees pay the remainder using pre-tax dollars. As long as the benefits are under $65, transit commuter benefits are non-taxable and are treated much like other common fringe benefits, such as employer-provided health insurance. Employers can deduct their costs for providing such benefits, and they avoid payroll taxes on such benefits regardless of who pays. (The law covering this benefit can be found in Section 132 of the Internal Revenue Code, Title 26 of the United States Code, as modified by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. IRS Publication 535 also explains the law.) Both the employer and employee benefit when they participate in this program. Not only is the commuter benefit program a great addition to an employee fringe benefit package, but it also means that employees do not need a vehicle in order to work for you. For example, you may be able to entice individuals to work for you who perhaps do not want the added expense of a second vehicle. Also, more employees using the bus means that you will save wear and tear on your parking lots, and less parking spaces for employees leaves more parking spaces for vendors and customers. The advantages to employees include the fact that they don't need a vehicle (or a second household vehicle) and the expenses that go with it in order to work for you. They can save hundreds of dollars each year by not having to pay for insurance, gas, repairs, oil changes, car washes, etc. Unlimited rides on the bus for the entire year would, at most, cost only $240.00! You can't beat that! Plus, a current Metro Money Card entitles the owner to special offers at several local businesses during each month. Businesses wishing to purchase Metro Money Cards can contact Maritime Metro at 683-4560 for more information. Discounts of 10% will be given for purchases of 10 to 19 cards of the same month at one time or 20% for 20 or more cards of the same month purchased at one time. Cards can be purchased by mail or at Maritime Metro's Office at 2655 South 35th Street, Manitowoc or in person at the Maritime Metro Intermodal Transfer Center at 915 South 11th Street, Manitowoc. Overview Employer tax benefit Employers allow employees to use pre-tax income to pay for transit costs; and save on payroll taxes (at least 7.65% savings) that would be paid on income; or Employers give employees up to $65 per month to commute via transit (Metro Money Card / bus pass = $20); employer gets tax deduction and savings on payroll taxes that would be paid on taxable fringe; or A combination of both up to statutory limits. Employee tax benefit Employee receives up to $65 per month in tax free transportation benefits (Metro Money Card / bus pass = $20); or Employee pays for commute benefits with pre-tax income and saves on income and payroll taxes; or A combination of both. Up to 20% off of bulk purchases of Metro Money Cards by participating businesses 10 or more of the same month purchased at one time = 10% off 20 or more of the same month purchased at one time = 20 % off Cards must be purchased by mail or in person from the Maritime Metro Office, 2655 S 35th St., Manitowoc or in person at the Maritime Metro Intermodal Transfer Center, 915 S 11th St., Manitowoc. Call 683-4560 for more information. Advertise on the bus! Looking for ways to reach new customers? Now you can advertise inside all of the Manitowoc & Two Rivers buses for one low price of $50 per month! Design & produce your own signs! The signs are placed in display areas above the seats along the inside of the bus for people to view as they ride. For maximum viewing, you should provide a sign for each of our 9 buses. The signs need to be 11” high, a maximum of 30” in length, and a thickness of 1/32” to a maximum of 1/16” (5 mil. laminate can be used). The signs should be delivered for approval and placement to: Maritime Metro Transit, 2655 S 35 St., Manitowoc, WI 54220-5965. Contact Maritime Metro Transit today at 920-683-4560 to reserve your space! Become a Metro Money Card partner! In the fall of each year, Maritime Metro Transit will be recruiting businesses for its Metro Money Card Program. In an effort to promote a greater awareness of public transportation on the lakeshore and build a cooperative spirit between transit and the business community, Metro recruits businesses who are willing to provide discounts or special offers to riders who present their pass at the participating businesses. With this promotion, Metro hopes to promote the benefits of public transportation while bringing additional prosperity to the lakeshore. Some examples of discounts or special offers that could be given are: 10% off at a local store Free drink with meal purchased Free skate rental Free delivery of floral arrangement $5.00 off a $35.00 perm Free six-inch sub sandwich Participating in this program benefits you in the following ways: An opportunity to increase sales to existing customers and to promote customer loyalty An opportunity to generate new business from the people who take advantage of your offer Increased advertising through transit promotions Name & offer on inside of Metro Money Cards (passes) Name & offer on signs inside buses Name & offer on sign inside of Intermodal Transfer Center Name & offer mentioned in some radio ads Name & offer listed on Metro’s web site Name & offer on flyers given out with most bus route maps Other miscellaneous advertising (newsletters, flyers, etc.) Business is perceived as helping the Cities of Manitowoc and Two Rivers There is absolutely no cost to your business except for the special offer or discount that you agree to provide. To save on printing costs, we ask that you agree to provide the same offer for the entire year. Please contact Maritime Metro Transit at 683-4560 if you are interested in the program for the following year. Also available is advertising space inside the buses. Impress and inform prospective customers as they relax and enjoy their ride! If interested, please call Maritime Metro weekdays, between 8 AM and 4 PM. Space is limited! Back to top