Interborough Express

The Interborough Express (IBX) is a proposed 14-mile (22.5 km) light rail line in New York City. As proposed, the line would use the existing right-of-way from the Bay Ridge Branch and Fremont Secondary to connect Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and Jackson Heights, Queens, but operate on its own separate tracks. Near the All Faiths Cemetery in Queens, IBX would operate on the street.[1]

History

In mid-October 2019, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that it would study the feasibility of restoring passenger service on the Bay Ridge Branch portion of the route.[2] On January 23, 2020, the MTA Board awarded a $1.3 million contract to study the feasibility of restoring passenger service to this section to AECOM.[3] In November 2021, Acting MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said that money from Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could be used to fund the completion of the Bay Ridge Branch project.[4]

In early January 2022, as part of her State of the State address New York governor Kathy Hochul announced that the state would move forward with the Bay Ridge Branch Line by conducting an environmental study on the IBX.[5] The study would consider whether the line should be heavy rail (rapid transit or regional rail), light rail, or bus rapid transit.[6][7] End-to-end travel times are expected to be 40 minutes, and weekday ridership is initially projected to be 74,000 to 88,000. The route would connect up to 17 subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road. A feasibility study was also completed on January 20, 2022.[8][9][10] Governor Hochul also announced that she had directed the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to complete an environmental review for the Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel for freight.[11] Hochul announced in her January 2023 address that the project would proceed as a light rail corridor.[12] Reasons for the light rail choice include faster service, easier construction—mostly fitting in existing right of way with a short on street segment, availability of off-the-shelf rolling stock and a lower overall cost, estimated at $5.5 billion, or about $48,000 per expected daily rider. Proposed headway would be 5 minutes peak and 10 minutes at other times. Freight use would continue, requiring separated tracks.[13]

Preliminary stations

As of 2023, the preliminary stations are: Brooklyn Army Terminal, 4th Avenue, Eighth Avenue, New Utrecht Avenue, McDonald Avenue, East 16th Street, Flatbush Avenue-Nostrand Avenue, Utica Avenue, Remsen Avenue, Linden Boulevard, Livonia Avenue, Sutter Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, Wilson Avenue, Myrtle Avenue, Metropolitan Avenue, Eliot Avenue, Grand Avenue, and Roosevelt Avenue.[1]

See also

References
  1. "The Interborough Express: Planning & Environmental Linkages Study". MTA. January 2023.
  2. Rivoli, Dan (October 15, 2019). "Advocates Push to Revive Three Old Rail Lines in City". www.ny1.com. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  3. Offenhartz, Jake (January 23, 2020). "The MTA Is Considering A New Train Line Connecting Bay Ridge To Astoria". Gothamist. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  4. Levy, Kayla (November 12, 2021). "Federal Money Could Finance Astoria To Brooklyn Train: MTA Brass". Astoria-Long Island City, NY Patch. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  5. WABC (January 5, 2022). "Proposed transit line would connect Brooklyn, Queens to 17 subway lines, LIRR". ABC7 New York. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  6. Chung, Jen (January 5, 2022). "Hochul Promises "Inter-Borough Express" Rail Service To Connect Brooklyn And Queens". Gothamist. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  7. Geberer, Raanan (January 5, 2022). "Hochul's new 'Interborough' proposal would link Brooklyn, Queens with rail service". Brooklyn Eagle. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  8. Gold, Michael (January 20, 2022). "Transit Line Connecting Brooklyn and Queens Moves Step Closer to Reality". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  9. Duggan, Kevin (January 20, 2022). "Hochul unveils more details about Interborough Express in new study". amNewYork. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  10. Interborough Express (IBX)—Feasibility Study and Alternatives Analysis, Interim Report, MTA, January 2022
  11. "Interborough Express". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 5, 2021. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  12. Martinez, Jose (January 10, 2023). "Hochul Calls MTA 'Lifeblood' of New York, but Transit Plans Lack Meat". The City. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  13. Luczak, Marybeth (January 11, 2023). "Light Rail Selected for New York's Interborough Express Project". Railway Age.

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