By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DEERFIELD TWP. - Daphne Wedig has commuted from Warren County to her job as an executive assistant at a downtown advertising agency by bus, using the time to decompress and catch up on her writing.

Now, the Deerfield Township mother of a 13-year-old and other riders on the Metro route from Paramount's Kings Island to downtown are fighting to make sure their transportation stays.

"It's just the smart way to get to work," Wedig said. "If I were driving, I'd be putting a new set of brakes or tires on my car nearly every year, not to mention all the gas costs."

"But there's more to taking the bus than just hopping on a bus and saving money on parking. It just helps weave the whole feeling of community together."

Transportation officials voted last week to end the bus route as of Jan. 1 unless Warren County, the city of Mason and Deerfield Township confirm they will fund it for another year. Metro has asked for months for a formal commitment, but those governments haven't responded yet, partly because funding requests like these typically are not approved until later in the year, officials say.

After hearing of the vote, riders on the 28-mile commute have inundated local officials with e-mails and phone calls. They've handed out fliers on the bus. They've even called state representatives and the governor's office and will attend community meetings later this month.

"People are more fired up about it now," said Nancy Worth of Lebanon, a rider for about four years. "Because of the economy, people are afraid they may not follow through and support it."

While the local governments have not officially responded, authorities expect financial support to continue. According to Metro, Deerfield Township and Mason would each need to pay about $25,000 for the next year's commuter and reverse-commute routes. Warren County would pay nearly $36,000 - about half of the costs for route 71/72 commuter service.

Hamilton County already has budgeted $13,200.

Metro estimates that the route had about 164,600 rides this year.

Metro asked the government funding partners for answers by Oct. 31.

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com