FALMOUTH — The future of the Falmouth Flyer bus service in town will be the subject of a public hearing Monday evening at Town Hall.

The hearing is required by state law because a citizen’s petition has put the question of ending taxpayer-supported Metro bus service in Falmouth on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Town voters will be asked to withdraw from the Greater Portland Transit District at the end of 2013, though ridership has increased steadily since bus service started in late 2004.

Citizens will have an opportunity to speak about the question at the public hearing, Town Manager Nathan Poore said Monday. The council will take no action on the question.

The hearing will be held in the council’s chamber starting at 7 p.m.

Town resident Michael Doyle collected many more than the estimated 860 signatures – 10 percent of registered voters – needed to get the question on the ballot, according to Town Clerk Ellen Planer.

Last November, the Town Council voted 5-2 against a similar proposal to withdraw from the transit district, which also serves Portland and Westbrook.

The council’s vote followed an emotional public hearing when 22 people urged town leaders to continue funding the Falmouth Flyer and four people spoke against the service.

The Metro cost Falmouth taxpayers about $105,000 in the fiscal year that ended June 30 and will cost about $115,000 in fiscal 2013, Poore said.

Ridership on the Falmouth Flyer has increased steadily since it started operating, from 54,484 trips in 2005 to 78,912 trips in 2011, according to the transit district.

Ridership was up 5 percent in the first eight months of 2012, from 50,396 trips in January through August 2011 to 52,979 trips during the same period this year.