Governor David Paterson said today that tolls on the East and Harlem River bridges will not be part of any bailout plan for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, but he is vowing to come up with a way to save New Yorkers from massive fare hikes and service cuts.

As lawmakers continue to work to pass the state budget, the governor, State Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver, and State Senator Malcolm Smith huddled today to discuss an MTA bailout plan.

Paterson says the State Senate is not budging on the issue of tolling the free bridges.

He says there is no plan as of yet, but the Legislature will work until there is one.

“This is an emergency. I don’t even like the fact that New Yorkers are feeling anxiety over the fact that there could be 23 and 30 percent fare and toll hikes in the next couple of months,” Paterson said. “Therefore, I insist that the Legislature work this out in the budget today or immediately and will summon them back here if necessary.”

Under the MTA’s doomsday budget, several subway and bus lines would be eliminated, and a one-way trip would rise to $2.50.

Unlimited ride MetroCards will also see a steep increase.

The push to bail out the MTA comes as the Legislature is also working to pass the state budget ahead of tonight’s midnight deadline.

At least some of the bills will likely be passed by tonight – although it’s not clear if the entire budget will be able to be pushed through before the clock strikes twelve.

The spending plan includes an increase of less than one percent in state spending. However, factoring in the federal stimulus money, the budget grows to nearly $132 billion.

In addition to an income tax hike on the wealthy, taxes being introduced in the budget include a five-cent fee on bottled water; a 30-cent fee on a gallon of wine, up from 19 cents; a 14-cent fee on a gallon of beer, up from 14 cents; a 46-percent tax on cigars and tobacco, up nine percent; and, a one-percent increase on the car rental tax, up to six percent.

Republicans are crying foul about being left out of the closed-door process, a sentiment being echoed by good government groups. Critics also say the Legislature should be using stimulus money to offset some of the budget cuts, as opposed to spending most of it.

Source: NY1