A glimmer of hope emerged Tuesday that city students will get to keep their free and discounted MetroCards - even though the MTA says it can't afford the program.
Gov. Paterson said the benefit - which helps about 585,000 kids get to school every day - would be first in line for money if there's an uptick in state revenue next year.
"The first thing I will do with added revenue is target them back to the MTA in order to relieve the young people from losing their MetroCards," Paterson said during an appearance in the Bronx.
A spokesman for state Senate Democrats went further, saying legislators may try to rescue the program by cutting other areas.
"As we work towards 2010-2011 budget, it's conceivable we will take steps to keep the program intact if at all possible," Austin Shafran, spokesman for the Democratic leadership in Senate, told the Daily News.
"Any attempts to restore the program would mean reductions would have to be made in other budgetary areas, and this is something we would certainly like to do," Shafran said.
The cash-strapped Metropolitan Transportation Authority dropped the bomb last week that it planned to end the longtime benefit.
Under a budget plan expected to be adopted by the board today, students would pay half fares in September 2010 and full fares starting September 2011.