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The Olney community is claiming a victory after the County Council included funding to retain a local bus route targeted for elimination in its recently passed operating budget for fiscal 2010.

The budget retains service for Route 53, which circulates through several Olney neighborhoods during evening and morning rush hours transporting commuters to both the Glenmont and Shady Grove Metro stations.

That route was among 18 Ride On bus routes that were considered for elimination or reduced service in the county executive's recommended budget. It was slated for the second round of proposed cuts planned for early July.

To offset the costs of retaining the bus route, parking rates were increased in the Bethesda/North Bethesda area.

News of the proposed elimination spread quickly through the community, causing residents and community leaders to work together to save the bus route that many people consider to be their lifeline.

Notices were posted on online bulletin boards, petitions were circulated, the Olney Loop cable television program addressed the issue and the Greater Olney Civic Association (GOCA) got involved.

The Olney community turned out in force at a March 24 public hearing to show support for the Route 53 bus.

Tom Pogue, community relations manager for the county's Department of Transportation, confirmed that the community's support was a factor in restoring the proposed elimination.

"We took into account the number of people that came forward and commented," he said. "The No. 53 bus was high on the list of routes to restore."

Area residents are pleased with the outcome of their efforts.

"I think this shows how we can, when we pull together on important issues as a community, produce significant changes," GOCA President Sharon Dooley said.

Perhaps no family is more pleased with the decision to retain the route than the Badins of Olney Mills, who have come to rely on the Route 53 bus.

For the past three years, Joe Badin takes the bus each day to and from the Glenmont Metro station because he doesn't want to fight the traffic, it is economical and parking is a challenge at Glenmont.

His 21-year-old son Brett is autistic and cannot drive but is able to walk to the bus stop each morning. By riding the Route 53 bus, he is able to get to Montgomery College to attend classes and to the Executive Office Building in Rockville where he works three days a week.

Had the bus been eliminated, it would have made things difficult for Brett, adding at least an hour each day to his commute.

"The elimination of this bus would have been a big inconvenience for our family," Joe Baden said. "At least we were in the position to have alternatives; others may not have been as fortunate."

He said he feels the county's decision was the right one.

"Ride On bus service is a necessary link and is important for the success of other county programs," Badin said. "It allows people to go to college and get job training. It seems foolish to not provide transportation for people to be able to get to these programs."

Badin said getting involved in saving the bus route was a good experience.

"Some people felt the decision to eliminate it had already been made, but our silence would have been an affirmation that this was a good decision," he said. "This was a good lesson in Civics 101— it shows the system can work when people get together to let their voices be heard. The council listened and came to the right conclusion."