New York, NY —

Governor Paterson is continuing to push for quick passage of the MTA's rescue plan to avert significant service cuts and a dramatic fare increase. He insisted that the March 25th deadline set by the authority for the legislature's approval was a real one.

PATERSON: I think the March 25th deadline is real. It's the appointed deadline whereby the board will meet to make the determination about the fare, but we're talking.

But MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin says the MTA would not turn its nose up at any new revenue if it came in April. He says the later date would complicate efforts to alter the fare hikes and service cuts slated to go into effect in June if the MTA doesn't get additional money from the state.