Governor Paterson and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged transit officials Tuesday to look for savings before possibly raising fares and tolls for a second year in a row.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is set to unveil its preliminary 2009 budget Wednesday and may boosttolls and fares. The discussion would come four months after the last price increase for the agency’s subways, buses, commuter railroads, bridges and tunnels.

Gov. David Paterson said an increase “this soon after the last fare hike just, in my opinion, is not wise.”

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he wouldn’t support another fare increase unless the MTA can show it’s tightening its own belt. “Anybody that tells you they’ve got a $10 billion budget and they can’t find a way to cut 5 percent, that’s just poor management,” said the mayor, a billionaire businessman who frequently takes the subway to work.

The last fare increase took effect in March. The $2 fare for a single subway or bus ride didn’t change, but monthly unlimited-ride MetroCards went to $81 from $76; weekly cards rose to $25 from $24.

(Source: WNBC)