State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith says there should be a comprehensive audit of the Metropolitan Transit Authority before lawmakers agree on new measures to solve its financial crisis.

Gov. David Paterson and legislators are negotiating a deal to rescue the MTA, which faces a two-year budget shortfall of about $3.4 billion. The transit system carries more than 8 million riders on a typical weekday. More than 300 million vehicles a year use its bridges and tunnels.

State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says there should be more transparency and regular auditing of the MTA. He also thinks there’s enough support among Assembly Democrats to pass a compromise he has proposed that would begin $2 tolls on East River bridges.

(WCBSTV)