PEABODY — The Coach Co. express bus that serves Boxford, Topsfield and Peabody will keep on rolling, thanks to a $2 million subsidy included in the state budget signed by Gov. Mitt Romney last week.

The subsidy was a victory for local commuters, who signed petitions and lobbied state legislators to save the commuter bus service. But before they had a chance to celebrate, they got another surprise yesterday — notice of a fare increase.

The cost of a 20-ride pass from Peabody to Boston will jump $7.25, from $98.50 to $105.75, as of Aug. 1. A single one-way ticket will jump a dollar, from $6.75 to $7.75.

"I expected an increase. Let's not kid ourselves, the cost of fuel has gone sky high," said Barbara Weinberg, one of two Peabody riders who organized efforts to save the subsidy. "But the guy could have waited, and maybe thanked us first."

Without a special appropriation from the state Legislature, the bus service, and six other suburban express bus lines, would have come to a screeching halt on July 1.

Earlier this year, faced with a $16 million deficit, the MBTA cut all suburban express bus contracts along with night-owl bus service. Night-owl service ended last week. But an energetic lobbying campaign led by the two Peabody riders convinced state legislators to add a special line item to keep the buses rolling.

"We worked hard to get that into the budget," Senate Majority Leader Fred Berry, D-Peabody, said. "I think we have to look at more mass transit, not less."

State Rep. Ted Speliotis, who represents Topsfield, Danvers and West Peabody, credited "a concerted effort by the Northeast legislative delegation and the riders of the bus." They saved not only the $369,000 subsidy for the local buses, he said, but subsidies for other suburban bus lines as well.

"Without him (Speliotis), we wouldn't have gotten it," Weinberg said. "He was the one who said you have to make noise, and we did."

Weinberg and Rosemary Russell, also a Peabody rider, mounted a letter-writing and telephone lobbying campaign to fight for the subsidy. They distributed leaflets on the buses, urging fellow passengers to write letters and to spread the word to others.

Russell and Weinberg are pleased with the win but have some reservations.
"It's such good news for us," Russell said. "I guess my one disappointment is that it goes for a year. So I guess we'll fight that fight again next year."

And then, of course, there's the price hike.

Coach Co. owner Benton Smith could not be reached for comment yesterday. But last fall, he said he would have to increase fares by $4 a ride to compensate for the loss of the subsidy — a hike that would have made fares too high to be workable.

The last rate increase was more than three years ago.

The company's notice to riders did give a nod to efforts to save the line.

"Congratulations to all those riders that worked to save it," read the notice. "Your help in maintaining the subsidy has helped to keep the increase to a fraction of what would be needed without it."

What Weinberg wanted to know is why Newburyport commuters at the end of the line will pay just 18 cents a mile, while Peabody commuters, much closer to Boston, will pay 33 cents a mile.

"Excuse me. They give Peabody the worst buses," Weinberg said. "Every time I get a bus that doesn't have air conditioning, guess what? They're going to get a complaint."

COACH CO. BUS FARES TO BOSTON
From One-way now One-way Aug. 1 20 rides now 20 rides Aug. 1
Peabody $6.75 $7.75 $93.50 $105.75
Topsfield $7 $8 $98.50 $111.50
Newburyport $8.75 $10 $110.25 $124.75
For more information,visit www.coachco.com