State leaders are coming to the end of the line in their attempt to rescue straphangers and bus riders from severe service cuts and double-digit fare hikes. Governor Paterson has sought to prevent the MTA from adopting its “doomsday budget” next month with a bailout crafted by former transit chairman Richard Ravitch. Divided over taxes and tolls, lawmakers have not settled on an alternative route out of the $1.2 billion hole. Here, the competing plans.
