# If the MTA declared bankruptcy, how would that affect pensions?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-mta-declared-bankruptcy-how-would-that-affect-pensions/961904>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 29, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-mta-declared-bankruptcy-how-would-that-affect-pensions/961904 "2022-03-29T14:36:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-mta-declared-bankruptcy-how-would-that-affect-pensions/961904/1 "2022-03-29T14:36:26Z")

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As the NYCity MTA loses riders, if at any point, declared bankruptcy, how would that affect pensions? Have have other companies unburndened themselves of pension payments?

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-mta-declared-bankruptcy-how-would-that-affect-pensions/961904/2 "2022-03-29T14:49:26Z")

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The MTA of New York is technically a corporation (a “public benefit corporation”), but it operates under the control of the city and the state, and is funded by the state (as well as by fares).

So, while I imagine it could technically “go bankrupt,” as some governmental units in the U.S. have in the past, but that would likely work differently from what would happen if a private company went bankrupt, and I suspect that the MTA’s pension obligation couldn’t be avoided in that way.

Here in Illinois, the state (as well as the city of Chicago and Cook County) faces some very steep pension obligations; in recent years, attempts to restructure those pension obligations have consistently been overturned by the courts.

> **[How the MTA operates](https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2021/01/how-the-mta-operates/175306/)**
>
> Who controls New York City’s public transportation system?

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**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-mta-declared-bankruptcy-how-would-that-affect-pensions/961904/3 "2022-03-29T19:58:45Z")

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Thanks Kenobi\_65.