Public Preview Scheduled to View MTA’s Vision for the Interborough Express Project
In January 2025, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) brought back to the table the 14-mile Interborough Express project intended to connect Brooklyn and Queens. At the time of the announcement, the MTA had plans to spend up to $100 million on initial phase engineering and design work for the ambitious light-rail project that has an estimated price tag of $5.5 billion. A total of 19 stops and links to 17 subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) will be created with an expected 115,000 riders utilizing the service daily during the weekdays. Existing freight tracks and infrastructure will be utilized without interruption to the operation of the freight trains. The infrastructure from the Bay ridge Branch is owned by the LIRR while the Fremont Secondary line is owned by Florida-based CSX, a major U.S. railroad freight company. The project would also require the MTA to “operate a new class of train cars that need specialized maintenance and storage facilities,” estimated costs could be $83.2 million in 2027 according to the January article by Crain’s New York. Although initially backed by Governor Hochul in 2022, the proposed project that will create a rail link between Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and Jackson Heights, Queens has progressed slowly and continues to face hurdles since the MTA’s “appeal to Albany for capital funding is no sure thing,” and “securing billions of federal transit dollars” likely to be a challenge under the current administration. The upcoming public open houses to be held at 6 PM are scheduled for April 22 at Maimonides Medical Center in Borough Park, Brooklyn and on May 8 in Jackson at the Renaissance Charter School.
MTA FAQ Sheet: https://www.mta.info/document/87606