Interborough Express (IBX)
Managing Agency: MTA-NYC Transit
Location: Bay Ridge Connector + CSX-owned Fremont Secondary rail lines (14-mile freight line that extends from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, to Jackson Heights, Queens)
Project Description: The Interborough Express (IBX) is a transformative rapid transit project that would connect currently underserved areas of Brooklyn and Queens.
Status: Under public review
May 19, 2022 Public Hearing: On Thursday, May 19 at 6 p.m., the MTA held a virtual meeting on plans for the Interborough Express. Click here to read Public Hearing notice. Attendees will viewed an overview of the project and were invited to ask questions. Learn more about the hearing and IBX plans.
September 22, 2022 Public Hearing: On Thursday, September 22 at 6 p.m., the MTA will hold a second virtual meeting on plans for the Interborough Express. Since the last update we held in the spring of 2022, MTA Construction & Development has been hard at work advancing the alternatives analysis, further exploring the engineering and operational constraints with each of the three modes under consideration and incorporating the public feedback received along the way. The three modes under consideration are bus rapid transit, light rail, or conventional heavy commuter-style rail. This town hall will provide an update on the planning process and what factors are under consideration as the project moves closer to selecting a Locally Preferred Alternative later in the fall. For more information and to register to participate, please go to new.mta.info/press-release/mta-hold-second-virtual-public-town-hall-meeting-interborough-express. Questions can also be submitted in advance at this link: https://mta-nyc.custhelp.com/app/interborough-express. ASL/CART and Spanish language services will be provided.
About this Project: The Interborough Express is a transformative rapid transit project that would connect currently underserved areas of Brooklyn and Queens. It would substantially cut down on travel times between the two boroughs, reduce congestion, and expand economic opportunities for the people who live and work in the surrounding neighborhoods.
The project would be built along the existing Bay Ridge Connector and and CSX-owned Fremont Secondary, a 14-mile freight line that extends from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, to Jackson Heights, Queens. It would create a new transit option for close to 900,000 residents of the neighborhoods along the route, along with 260,000 people who work in Brooklyn and Queens. It would connect with up to 17 different subway lines, as well as Long Island Rail Road, with end-to-end travel times anticipated at around 40 minutes. Its projected initial ridership would be 74,000 to 88,000 weekday riders.
Using the existing rail infrastructure means the Interborough Express could be built more quickly, regardless of the mode of transit chosen for the project. It would also preserve the Bay Ridge Connector’s use as a freight line, providing an opportunity to connect to the Port Authority’s Cross-Harbor Freight Project.
For additional information, please review the MTA Feasibility Study for the Interborough Express
Project benefits:
- A direct public transit option between Brooklyn and Queens
- Connections with up to 17 subway lines and Long Island Rail Road
- A faster commute — end-to-end rides are expected to take 40 minutes
- A new transit option in underserved locations where more than a third of residents are below the federal poverty line
