Governor Pataki’s proposal to lease bridges, highways, and other transportation facilities and allow private operators to impose tolls or fees was the focus of skeptical state legislators at a hearing yesterday on the state budget.

State Transportation Commissioner Joseph Boardman said it could make sense for the state to privatize some transportation assets, especially new facilities the state doesn’t have the money to build without private involvement.

“I think that we, all of us here, are looking at a constrained budget at the federal level, a constrained budget at the state level, and we need to find ways to finance infrastructure,” Mr. Boardman said. He noted the state successfully privatized Stewart Airport in Newburgh, and said a span like the Tappan Zee Bridge about 30 miles north of New York City could be a candidate under Mr. Pataki’s proposal. The state Thruway Authority now runs the busy bridge and charges tolls on it.

Mr. Boardman said bridges might be the best candidates for privatization because they are relatively short with limited access to motor vehicles. Asked about highways being privatized, like the Taconic Parkway or the Adirondack Northway, Mr. Boardman said neither would be good candidates in his mind.