New York Won’t Put Tolls on NYC’s Free Bridges

New York Gov. David Paterson (D) ruled out tolling 13 free bridges over the East and Harlem rivers in New York City as a funding source for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the New York Post reported.

Paterson said at a news conference that resistance from six Democrats in the state Senate killed the idea to close a funding gap in the agency that oversees public transportation and some bridges and tunnels around New York City, the Post said.

The governor said that an increase in the fuel tax was also killed.

MTA recently closed its $1.2 billion budget gap by increasing public transportation fares, the Post reported.