RALEIGH The N.C. Senate would slam the brakes on Charlotte's long-planned northeast light rail extension, eliminating state money that officials say could jeopardize the entire project.

The Senate budget also would ban Charlotte transit officials from obligating state money for the proposed Red Line through northeast Mecklenburg.

And it would kill Gaston County's proposed Garden Parkway toll road, using money from that project for urban loop roads, perhaps including Interstate 485.

The provisions are part of a $19.4 billion spending plan unveiled Tuesday by Senate Republican. The budget, expected to be approved by the Senate next week, must be reconciled with a House version before going to Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue.

Blocking state money for two toll road and bridge projects as well as Charlotte's rail transit is part of an effort to reserve more money for road maintenance and bridge repair, GOP leaders said.

Fiscal researchers say the Senate plan would provide enough money to replace 36 percent of North Carolina's substandard bridges over the next two years.

"We wanted to target more dollars to maintaining the system we have - as opposed to building new roads, new bridges, new parts of the system," said Senate Leader Phil Berger, a Rockingham County Republican.

The Senate budget would eliminate $22.5 million from the pot that would be used to extend the Blue Line to UNC Charlotte, according to Dana Fenton, Charlotte's lobbyist. The budget also would bar the Charlotte Area Transit System from entering into any contracts for the Red Line that "require the present or future commitment" of state money.

"It's very disappointing," said Carolyn Flowers, CATS CEO. "It means we have a significant hole in our funding plan and that is a major concern for us. So we hope there is some reconsideration ... and that they consider the impact here in Charlotte and the region."

Flowers said CATS planned to use the state money as part of a required match when it makes a pitch for federal money this fall. CATS hopes the federal government pays about half the extension's nearly $1 billion cost. The state would pay a quarter. The other quarter would come from the local 1-cent sales tax earmarked for transit.

"It's terrible," said Sen. Malcolm Graham, a Democrat whose district includes UNCC. "It's one of those things that just doesn't reflect the priorities of the state of North Carolina."

Charlotte City Council member Nancy Carter said the proposed Senate cut could affect efforts to get other federal money. "It affects our capacity to access federal money for all transportation projects, not just transit," she said.

But GOP Sen. Bob Rucho of Matthews said budget writers, faced with a $2.5 billion shortfall, had to make hard choices. Their choice was to spend on maintaining existing roads and infrastructure.

A new rail line, he said, is "like putting a new roof on a house infested with termites. What good does it do you?"

Blocking money for light rail in Charlotte could set a precedent for Triangle officials who are counting on the state to cover 25 percent of construction costs for planned light rail and commuter train projects that could cost a total of $3.5 billion over the next 15 years.

"This would hurt Charlotte in the very near term and, if it were to stand, would hurt us in the Triangle, clearly," said David King, general manager of Triangle Transit.

But GOP Sen. Richard Stevens of Cary, co-chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, warned against reading too much into the current budget. He said he would not rule out prospects for Triangle and other rail transit funding in future years.

Light rail and toll roads weren't the only transportation issues in the budget to stir controversy.

Democratic senators blasted a proposal to raise parking fees for Capitol-area visitors to $2 per hour. And they also questioned budget writers' proposal to charge fees on all N.C. ferries, including those now free.

Sen. Stan White, a Democrat from Nags Head, told the Finance Committee that would mean coastal residents would have to pay for routine trips.

"I find it unconscionable that we could charge people in our state to visit their grandmother (or) their doctor," he said.