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Interborough Express

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Interborough Express
Overview
StatusPlanning
OwnerMetropolitan Transportation Authority
LocaleBrooklyn, Queens
Termini
Stations19
Service
TypeLight rail
ServicesNew York City Subway
History
Planned opening2027; 3 years' time (2027)[1]
Technical
Track length14 mi (23 km)
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Route map

Legend
 Roosevelt Avenue
Grand Avenue
Eliot Avenue
Metropolitan Avenue
Myrtle Avenue
Wilson Avenue
Atlantic Avenue
Sutter Avenue
Livonia Avenue
Linden Boulevard
Remsen Avenue
Utica Avenue
Flatbrush Avenue–Nostrand Avenue
East 16 Street
McDonald Avenue
New Utrecht Avenue
8 Avenue
4 Avenue
Brooklyn Army Terminal
Handicapped/disabled access All stations are accessible
This diagram:

The Interborough Express (IBX) is a proposed 14-mile (23 km) 24/7 light rail line in New York City. As proposed, the line would operate on dedicated tracks within the existing right-of-way from the Bay Ridge Branch and Fremont Secondary to connect Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and Jackson Heights, Queens. As of 2023, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) estimated that the project would be operational in 2027.[1]

History

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The Regional Plan Association originally proposed the Triboro RX along this route in 1996[2] and again in 2012.[3] In mid-October 2019, the MTA announced that it would study the feasibility of restoring passenger service on the Bay Ridge Branch portion of the route.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7] The study would consider whether the line should be heavy rail (rapid transit or regional rail), light rail, or bus rapid transit.[8][9] A feasibility study was also completed on January 20, 2022.[10][11][12] 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.[13] Hochul announced in her January 2023 address that the project would proceed as a light rail corridor.[14] According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the route had to run along Metropolitan Avenue and 69th Street in Middle Village, Queens, to avoid a narrow tunnel under All Faiths Cemetery;[15][16] the cemetery's superintendent said in early 2024 that the MTA had never contacted the cemetery.[17] Opponents of the street-running segment said it would have made IBX vehicles vulnerable to delays, since trains would be restricted to 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) and run in mixed traffic.[18]

Virtual town hall meetings for the IBX began in August 2023,[19] followed by in-person town halls that November.[20] At the time, the MTA expected that the project would be finished in 2027 at a cost of $5.5 billion.[1] In her 2024 State of the State address, Kathy Hochul announced that formal design and engineering work would begin later in the year.[21][15] The MTA allocated $2.75 billion in funding for the project in its 2025–2029 Capital Plan, accounting for half the estimated cost;[22]: 54  pre-construction work was still underway in late 2024.[23] That October, the MTA announced that it planned to dig a tunnel underneath All Faiths Cemetery to avoid street running.[18][24] The MTA simultaneously announced that it would begin the planning process for the Interborough Express after it received $67 million from the federal and state governments,[25] and it opened a request for proposal for the IBX's design and environmental review.[26][27] At the time, the preliminary design process was expected to take two years.[25][26]

Description

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The right-of-way of the planned Interborough Express as seen in Brooklyn
The Interborough Express is planned to use the Bay Ridge Branch (pictured, left) and Fremont Secondary.

The IBX is planned to be built as a light rail line.[1] Reasons for the light rail choice include faster service, easier construction—mostly fitting in existing right of way, availability of off-the-shelf rolling stock, and a lower overall cost that is estimated at $5.5 billion, or about $48,000 per expected daily rider.[28] Proposed headways are 5 minutes during peak hours and 10 minutes at other times. Freight use would continue, requiring separated tracks.[28] End-to-end travel times are expected to be 40 minutes, and weekday ridership is initially projected to be 115,000. The route would connect up to 17 subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road.[10][11][12]

Preliminary stations

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As of 2024, the preliminary stations are: Roosevelt Avenue, Grand Avenue, Eliot Avenue, Metropolitan Avenue, Myrtle Avenue, Wilson Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, Sutter Avenue, Livonia Avenue, Linden Boulevard, Remsen Avenue, Utica Avenue, Flatbush Avenue–Nostrand Avenue, East 16 Street, McDonald Avenue, New Utrecht Avenue, 8 Avenue, 4 Avenue, and Brooklyn Army Terminal.[29][22]: 55 

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Westbrook, Elijah (August 24, 2023). "Interborough Express looks to bring trolley cars back to NYC streets with light rail connecting Brooklyn and Queens". CBS New York. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "Third Regional Plan Summary". rpa.org. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  3. ^ Rubinstein, Dana (April 25, 2012). "The surprising return of the three-borough 'X line' subway". Capital New York. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  4. ^ Rivoli, Dan (October 15, 2019). "Advocates Push to Revive Three Old Rail Lines in City". www.ny1.com. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  5. ^ Offenhartz, Jake (January 23, 2020). "The MTA Is Considering A New Train Line Connecting Bay Ridge To Astoria". Gothamist. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ WABC (January 5, 2022). "Proposed transit line would connect Brooklyn, Queens to 17 subway lines, LIRR". ABC7 New York. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  8. ^ Chung, Jen (January 5, 2022). "Hochul Promises "Inter-Borough Express" Rail Service To Connect Brooklyn And Queens". Gothamist. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  9. ^ Geberer, Raanan (January 5, 2022). "Hochul's new 'Interborough' proposal would link Brooklyn, Queens with rail service". Brooklyn Eagle. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  10. ^ a b 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.
  11. ^ a b Duggan, Kevin (January 20, 2022). "Hochul unveils more details about Interborough Express in new study". amNewYork. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Interborough Express (IBX)—Feasibility Study and Alternatives Analysis, Interim Report, MTA, January 2022
  13. ^ "Interborough Express". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 5, 2021. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  14. ^ Martinez, Jose (January 10, 2023). "Hochul Calls MTA 'Lifeblood' of New York, but Transit Plans Lack Meat". The City. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Brachfeld, Ben (January 10, 2024). "Interborough Express light rail project, which will connect Bay Ridge and Jackson Heights, inches forward". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  16. ^ Brachfeld, Ben (January 11, 2023). "Interborough Express will move forward as light rail project". amNewYork. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  17. ^ Brachfeld, Ben (January 22, 2024). "The Queens graveyard that could put Hochul's Interborough Express six feet under". amNewYork. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Brachfeld, Ben (October 29, 2024). "MTA looking to dig tunnel underneath Queens cemetery for IBX light rail project". amNewYork. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  19. ^ Graham, Aidan (August 15, 2023). "MTA to host town hall Wednesday on Interborough Express rail line from Brooklyn to Queens". amNewYork. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  20. ^ Liebman, Samantha (November 8, 2023). "MTA holds first in-person town hall on Interborough Express". Spectrum News NY1. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  21. ^ Brachfeld, Ben (January 12, 2024). "MTA to Start Work This Year on Interborough Express Train Connecting Brooklyn and Queens". Brownstoner. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "2025–2029 Capital Plan". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  23. ^ Martinez, Jose (September 18, 2024). "MTA Lays Out $68B Big-Ticket Wish List for Transit, Despite Congestion Pricing U-Turn". THE CITY – NYC News. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  24. ^ Brachfeld, Ben (October 29, 2024). "MTA looking to dig tunnel underneath cemetery in Middle Village for Interborough Express, scrapping street-running plan". Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  25. ^ a b Liebman, Samantha (October 29, 2024). "MTA to start work on the Interborough Express". Spectrum News NY1. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  26. ^ a b "MTA announces new steps in IBX planning, embraces tunnel". Brooklyn Eagle. October 30, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  27. ^ "MTA launches RFP for Interborough Express to link Brooklyn and Queens". News 12 - Default. October 29, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  28. ^ a b Luczak, Marybeth (January 11, 2023). "Light Rail Selected for New York's Interborough Express Project". Railway Age.
  29. ^ "The Interborough Express: Planning & Environmental Linkages Study". MTA. January 2023.
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