Today's winner: Organized Metro riders , who turned out in force over the past month to speak up in favor of a $20 fee to save King County Metro bus service (and submitted more than 10,000 petitions asking the county council to save their buses).

And it worked.

A bit of a "duh," but today's deal on the $20 fee to preserve Metro transit service (two county council Republicans signed on, along with five Democrats, to pass the fee without a public vote) is a big win for Metro riders, who won't, at least in the short term, have to bear 17 percent cuts to transit service. It's rare to see politicians change their minds on an issue as controversial as car-tab fees, but the public testimony (and a lot of smart back-room deal-making by county exec Dow Constantine) gave at least two county council Republicans the cover they needed to vote in favor of saving bus service.

As if to underline the significance of the bipartisan deal, a half-dozen groups and officials, from Democratic state Rep. (and congressional contender) Marko Liias (who got the ball rolling on Metro funding by introducing it in the state house last session)  to the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce issued a fusillade of press releases praising the county for agreeing to pass the license fee. (Republicans Pete Von Reichbauer and Reagan Dunn were notably absent during this morning's transit love-in).

Rob Johnson, head of the Transportation Choices Coalition:

The people of King County spoke, and government listened. The public outcry surrounding 17% cuts to bus service in the form of over 15,000 people signing petitions, sending letters, and attending hearings was too immense for the King County Council to ignore.”

April Putney, co-director of Futurewise:

This welcome news is not just about numbers and statistics, it is about the King County Council stepping up and committing to save bus service for the thousands of people who rely on transit every day to get to work, the doctor, and services across all of King County.

County Council member Hague:

This is a very different legislative package from what was initially proposed. This deal offers real reform. It cuts waste, creates jobs and provides equity to the Eastside. It’s important we keep people moving while reforming Metro.

Liias:

The agreement reached by the King County Council is a great step for the families of King County and other users of the Metro system. I am pleased to see the temporary congestion reduction charge that I sponsored last session being used to prevent devastating transit cuts."

Chamber communications director Charles Knutson:

We applaud council members for coming together in support of a deal that preserves transit service at a time when our employers, employees, and our community relies on it more than ever.