Gov. Ed Rendell says he hopes the Legislature will approve additional bus and trolley funding in November, but he doesn't favor increasing the state gasoline tax to do it.

"With oil going to its highest price per barrel ever, I'm not sure there are votes for a gas tax increase, and I'm not sure it's appropriate to do a gas tax increase now," Rendell said, referring to reports of oil selling for $53 per barrel and unleaded gas at close to $2 a gallon many places in Pennsylvania.

But then he also cautioned, "I don't want to close the door on anything that might happen in the session after the Nov. 2 election. Everything is on the table."

He said he's aware that the Port Authority in Allegheny County and its Philadelphia counterpart have warned of dire cutbacks in mass transit service and increases in fares because of shortfalls of more than $90 million if additional state aid isn't obtained by January. The Legislature will adjourn for the year on Nov. 30.

"What we may wind up doing," Rendell said, "is giving some help for mass transit [in November], maybe not all they want, but some stopgap help, which I hope we can persuade the Legislature to do on its own merit."