New Yorkers should hold onto the money they saved from congestion pricing's defeat - they might need it for their MetroCards.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Executive Director Elliot Sander said that if its capital plan can't find funding, it could take a toll on the fare box.

"Let me say that if we are not able to get the financial support for our capital program, I believe very strongly, at least for our core program, the board would have to consider things like fares and tolls," Sander said yesterday.

The $29 billion plan budgets for massive projects like the Second Avenue Subway, as well as "core" maintenance of trains and station.

The capital plan now faces a $13.5 billion gap.

But Sander probably can't expect much from Albany. The legislature voted to cut more than $52 million from the MTA's budget this week.