About the IBX
The Interborough Express, or the IBX, is a proposed light rail line that will create a transformative transit connection between Brooklyn and Queens. It will dramatically cut down on travel times, reduce congestion, and expand economic opportunities for the communities along the route.
Did you know?
This rail corridor was once part of the original New York and Manhattan Beach Railway, which ran passenger service from 1876 to 1924.
Project overview
The line will run along the existing Long Island Rail Road-owned Bay Ridge Branch and CSX-owned Fremont Secondary, a 14-mile freight line that runs from Sunset Park to Jackson Heights. The IBX will add new tracks for passenger service while preserving the adjacent freight service.
Using existing rail infrastructure means the Interborough Express will be built quickly and efficiently. It will also preserve the corridor’s use as a freight line, keeping goods moving along one of the region’s critical commercial links.
The IBX will also expand local access to economic opportunities, essential services, and recreational and cultural resources for currently underserved locations where more than a third of residents are below the federal poverty line.
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17 subway line connections
Line A Line C Line E Line B Line D Line F Line M Line J Line Z Line L Line N Line Q Line R Line 2 Line 3 Line 5 Line 7
- 24/7 service with 5-minute frequency
- 18 IBX stations
- 50+ bus route connections
- 2 LIRR connections
- 32 minutes end-to-end
- 160,000+ projected daily weekday riders
Project progress
Corridor history
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1876
- Passenger rail service began as part of the New York and Manhattan Beach Railway
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1924
- Passenger service on the line ceased
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1996
- Regional Plan Association (RPA) releases the Third Regional Plan, proposing a new transit link
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2022
- The MTA releases Interborough Express Feasibility Study
- Governor Hochul directs MTA to begin environmental review process
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2023
- Planning and Environmental Linkages study released
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2024
- Governor Hochul allocates New York State funding to begin IBX project design
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2025
- The IBX received down payment funding in MTA's Capital Plan
- Project enters design phase
- Environmental scoping process begins
Project development process
Before construction begins, the project is carefully reviewed in order to better understand its potential impacts and to refine its design. Two key phases in this process are environmental review and design. Each plays a different role in shaping the project and ensuring it is carefully planned for the community.
Environmental review
The environmental review phase is when we study how the proposed project will affect the surrounding community and environment. At the end of the process, we will publish an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which will include:
- Statement of the project’s purpose
- Analysis of project alternatives
- Assessment of potential impacts to the community and environment, such as noise, air quality, and impacts to property
- Identification of potential mitigation measures to reduce potential impacts
Draft EIS public review period: late 2026
Design
The design phase is when we turn conceptual ideas into more detailed plans and includes:
- Data collection along the corridor
- Initial design of bridges, tracks, walls, and structures
- Refinement of station layouts and features
- Technical analyses
- Study of potential construction methods
Project updates
As project planning and design progresses, we continue to refine the project based on additional analysis and community input. Recent changes include:
- We shifted the Atlantic Avenue Station north, into the East New York Tunnel, to facilitate transfers to the Line A and Line C subway lines at at Broadway Junction.
- Initial conceptual design included the IBX running along the street at Metropolitan Avenue. Based on community input, we are now developing a design configuration for a tunnel within the freight rail corridor, beneath Metropolitan Avenue and the All Faiths Cemetery, working closely with the cemetery to manage the impacts.
- We’ll be removing the Sutter Avenue station from the IBX program based on further analysis of projected transfers, proximity of nearby stations, and transit performance. The existing Sutter Av Line L will continue to function as a "local" station, allowing the IBX to run as "express" service between Livonia Av and Atlantic Av.
Why light rail?
What is light rail?
Light rail transit uses electric trains that usually run on their own dedicated tracks. It’s a more affordable option than a traditional subway system, while still offering fast, reliable, and safe service for riders.
Benefits of light rail
Light rail has been selected for the IBX because it offers the right balance of performance, value, and flexibility for this project. Light rail will feel familiar to New Yorkers: it is frequent and dependable, like the subway.
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High performance
Built to handle sharper turns found along the IBX route while still delivering fast, reliable service. -
Cost effective
More affordable to build and operate, and multiple suppliers keeps costs competitive. -
Environmentally sustainable
Modern electric technology uses less energy. -
Considerate community impacts
Less noise for riders and neighbors. -
Future-proof
Can handle ridership on day one with flexibility for future expansion.
Vehicles
Choosing the right vehicles for the IBX is a key part of designing a successful light rail system. Vehicle decisions are carefully evaluated to balance capacity, performance, comfort, safety, and long-term sustainability, while ensuring accessibility for all riders.
Train configuration and size must fit how the system will be used, where it will operate, and who it will serve. For the IBX, this means we need vehicles that can:
- Operate every five minutes during peak hours
- Run along with existing freight corridor and need to travel through tight curves
- Fit through the East New York Tunnel
Accessible vehicles ensure that people of all abilities can board, move within, and exit trains easily. For the IBX, this means we need vehicles that:
- Have level boarding, with the entrance height of the train at platform height
- Include priority seating
- Are easy to move around inside for people of all abilities
- Meet or exceed ADA guidelines related to mobility, visual, audio, and other accessibility challenges
New vehicles will prioritize passenger comfort needs during every part of the journey. Feedback from potential users will inform the elements within a train car, including:
- Lighting
- Interior layout
- Seating type configurations
- Onboard information displays
Vehicles that can quickly and reliably move along the route are required. For the IBX, this means we need vehicles that can:
- Travel the entire IBX route in approximately 32 minutes
- Travel at speeds of up to 65 mph
- Be agile with acceleration and braking to handle frequent stops and spacing between stations
Safety and sustainability are built into the vehicle’s design and technology, ensuring reliable operation and environmental responsibility.
- The train control system will work continuously to ensure safe operations
- Regenerative braking will recover energy and reuse it to operate the train