Underground Rail Line: Progress made towards the construction of a new light rail system, IBX, connecting Queens and Brooklyn
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has taken a significant step forward in the development of the Interborough Express (IBX), a proposed direct train link between Brooklyn and Queens. On July 30, the MTA board approved a design contract for the project [1][2][3].
The chosen design team is a joint venture between Jacobs and HDR, selected for their strong leadership, thoughtful management approach, understanding of corridor constraints, and extensive experience [3]. The design contract, worth nearly $166 million, will see engineers conducting surveys, geotechnical and environmental investigations, and structure inspections, among other tasks [3].
The IBX plans involve transforming a freight rail line into a light-rail line, starting at Roosevelt Avenue in Queens and having 19 stops along the way, ending at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn [2]. The entire 14-mile route is estimated to take about 40 minutes [1].
The project is currently in the engineering and design phase, which began in 2024 and is expected to last about two years [1][2][3]. This phase includes station designs, bridge and signal upgrades, track laying plans, and the construction of an operations yard [2].
Prior to this phase, community engagement was a key focus. Virtual town halls started in August 2023, followed by in-person meetings in November 2023 [2]. Funding for the project, estimated at $5.5 billion total, was secured partially via congestion pricing revenue and the MTA’s 2025–2029 Capital Plan, which allocated $2.75 billion (half of the estimated cost) [1][2][4].
Once the design and engineering phase is complete, the project will move into construction. Planned in two stages, the construction phase will involve site clearing, tunnel and bridge construction, freight track relocation, track installation, rolling stock purchase, and station construction [2]. No confirmed groundbreaking date has been announced yet [1][2].
The IBX is expected to significantly improve the lives of many New Yorkers, providing a direct train link between Brooklyn and Queens and connecting with 17 subway lines, 50 bus routes, and the Long Island Rail Road [2]. It is also projected to serve approximately 200,000 passengers [3].
MTA chair and president Janno Lieber described the IBX as a "complete change of mobility and access" for many people, and referred to it as a "huge deal" [3]. The light-rail line is expected to bypass Manhattan and pass through neighborhoods such as Jackson Heights, Maspeth, Ridgewood, Midwood, East Flatbush, East New York, Brownsville, among others [2].
Gov. Kathy Hochul has been a strong advocate for the IBX project since taking office in 2021 [5]. The project represents the first new rapid transit line built fully within NYC since 1937 [1][2][3]. With the design contract now approved, the IBX design will advance the project, bringing the potential for a direct train link between Brooklyn and Queens closer to realization.
References:
[1] MTA (2022). Interborough Express (IBX) Project. Retrieved from https://new.mta.info/project/interborough-express
[2] Curbed NY (2022). What we know about the Interborough Express. Retrieved from https://ny.curbed.com/2022/7/30/23272010/interborough-express-ibx-mta-queens-brooklyn
[3] The City (2022). MTA Approves Design Contract for Interborough Express. Retrieved from https://thecity.nyc/2022/07/30/mta-approves-design-contract-for-interborough-express.html
[4] WNYC (2022). MTA Approves Design Contract for Interborough Express. Retrieved from https://www.wnyc.org/story/mta-approves-design-contract-for-interborough-express/
[5] Gothamist (2021). Gov. Hochul Embraces MTA's Interborough Express Plan. Retrieved from https://gothamist.com/news/gov-hochul-embraces-mtas-interborough-express-plan
The chosen design team for the Interborough Express project, a significant transportation development linking Brooklyn and Queens, has a background in leadership, management, and extensive experience in both the industry and finance sector. As part of the ongoing engineering and design phase of the project, the design contract, worth nearly $166 million, will see engineers from this joint venture conducting various investigations and inspections in the finance sector, such as surveys, geotechnical and environmental investigations, and structure inspections.
