One day, we'll hop on the Interborough Express
Details on a proposed Queens <-> Brooklyn Light Rail
Increasing abundance in New York City requires a sharp focus on new transportation and housing efforts. Among these projects, the Interborough Express (IBX) rail line really stands out. Building a new dedicated rail line between Queens and Brooklyn is not a new idea. But the recently proposed IBX might finally have the political momentum behind it to bring it to reality. By giving these boroughs a new line of efficient transportation, the IBX could foster the growth of the middle and outer portions of Queens and Brooklyn, allowing them to contribute more to the city's economic and social vibrancy.
Governor Kathy Hochul has a lot of enthusiasm for this proposal, so I think it's worth watching. Last week I attended a MTA webinar on the project. In this post, I'll share my learnings Q&A style on where the project stands.
So, what is the IBX?
The Interborough Express (IBX) would be a 14-mile light rail system linking the Bay Ridge neighborhood in Brooklyn to Jackson Heights in Queens. Although the MTA hasn't built the IBX yet, the agency could use the existing Bay Ridge Branch freight rail for it.
The proposed route has 19 stations. It would intersect with 17 subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) at Atlantic Avenue.
As you can see in this map above, the IBX would be much deeper into Queens and Brooklyn than the G line, the only subway line that runs through both boroughs but not Manhattan.
The Bay Ridge Branch freight rail?
The Bay Ridge Branch is a fascinating piece of living history. It is a freight rail that runs through Queens and Brooklyn. You can actually see it on a map if you know where to look. Up to three freight trains daily still run on it.
The rail line itself is incredibly old. It was built in 1876 and had passenger traffic until 1924, before the Great Depression. Today, the LIRR owns it. A private company called CSX owns the northern counterpart to the Bay Ridge Branch, the Fremont Secondary rail line. The IBX would also be built atop of this freight rail.
So the IBX is not a new subway line?
Right. A January 2023 study analyzed different possibilities for the IBX, including a subway line or a bus system. However, the study recommended a light rail system, citing factors like capacity, cost efficiency per passenger, and reliability for passengers.
Oh, I see, a light rail ...
Yes — think the MUNI in San Francisco or the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail in Hoboken, New Jersey. This is a similar idea.
So, why should we care about this? Why are you excited about?
It’s not sexy, but the top priority for any passenger rail is getting commuters to work. I think this project could help commuters. That said, building more commercial real estate around the IBX could make this benefit more obvious. It would also reduce the city’s current reliance on Lower Manhattan for commercial real estate tax revenue.
In particular, it seems like commuters from neighborhoods like Middle Village and Maspeth in Queens or Carnarsie and Flatlands in Brooklyn would benefit a lot from the IBX. Right now it seems like a lot of these commutes into Manhattan involve taking a bus to connect to the subway.
As someone who lives in Williamsburg and works in Chelsea, I don't think I would ride the IBX regularly. That said, I’m selfishly looking forward to exploring the Queens and Brooklyn neighborhoods nearby the IBX on a more regular basis if the light rail gets built. Some rare trips like my annual pilgrimage to the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights might be a lot faster. And finally, the IBX might make reaching LaGuardia Airport a little easier.
This is a neat project — what other big projects is the MTA working on? How are they prioritized relative to IBX?
Actually, the MTA is conducting a 20-year transportation needs assessment this year. So, we have some insight into this question.
The MTA’s landing page for this initiative lists out 23 projects. Of these, only the IBX has a landing page. This make me feel like it could be the flagship expansion project for the MTA between now and 2040.
You’ve sold me. When are we riding?
Ha, well, don’t hold your breath. Environmental review for a project like this will take two years, and that may only begin towards the end of 2023. So that puts us at 2026 to only start construction. I don’t know when the MTA will complete the IBX but I’d be happy to be riding by the end of the decade
Lame. What can we do in the mean time?
In the short-term, the good news is that we have a supportive governor to push this project forward. Some other ideas to show support include:
Submitting a comment to the MTA. In fact, if you have a second, go to https://contact.mta.info/s/forms/interborough-express now and tell the MTA you read an (hopefully!) interesting article on the IBX and want to see the IBX built.
Individual Community Boards can write statements in support of the IBX. These resolutions could use anecdotes, surveys, or existing transportation data to explain how the IBX would benefit their Community District in particular.
CBs should present not only to the City Council but also State and Congressional representatives since those levels of government will help fund this project. Remember, the New York governor appoints the MTA Board of Directors.
Alright, where can I learn more and see updates?
Check out https://new.mta.info/IBX. I'll try and post updates to the project here on Friends of Abundance Substack. Stay tuned!