For Brooklyn and Queens residents, commuting between the boroughs can be a hassle. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s proposed Interborough Express could offer a new way for riders to travel between the two boroughs without having to go through Manhattan.
The IBX is a proposed light rail line that will connect Brooklyn and Queens. Gov. Kathy Hochul and the MTA revealed new details on how the stations will look on Sept. 9.
The new stations are set to be created along freight lines between Bay Ridge and Jackson Heights. The MTA said that once the project is completed, it is expected to move riders from the Brooklyn Army Terminal to Roosevelt Avenue in just 32 minutes. It will consist of 18 stations in both boroughs and will connect 17 subway stations and the Long Island Rail Road.
Currently, the MTA is working on making three of the four stations accessible before they connect them to the IBX. Those stations include Broadway Junction, Junius Street and Avenue I.
The design phase was funded through $45 million from Hochul’s FY 2026 state budget and the MTA’s 2025-29 Capital Plan. This project is expected to cost the MTA $5.5 billion and will be the first rapid end-to-end system to open since the G train’s opening in 1937.
The IBX stations in Queens will be the first new transit stations built since Archer Avenue’s extension of the E, J and Z lines in 1988.
According to the MTA, “IBX stations will provide clear sightlines, tactile floor tiles leading to wide fare gates, pass-through elevators with wider cabs, level boarding throughout the platform, enhanced station lighting, digital signage along with audio announcements and wayfinding signage positioned for optimal viewing and clear delivery of information.”
Hochul said in a statement, “By pushing forward on design and accelerating accessibility upgrades at future subway connections, my administration is bringing all 900,000 New Yorkers who live near planned IBX line one stop closer to reduced travel times and an even more reliable public transit experience.”
Hochul also announced that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be revealed ahead of schedule. After the release, there will be a series of public meetings where Brooklyn and Queens residents can share their opinions about the IBX.
Over the past summer, there have been almost 30 pop-up events with more than 7,000 local community member engagements and about 140 events hosted across the duration of this project. This past spring, the project team met with 14 community boards and hosted workshops to gain input on the design.
Although the project is still in the development phase, New Yorkers remain hopeful that commuting between Brooklyn and Queens won’t always be a struggle. Once the IBX is completed, riders will have a faster and smoother way to travel without having to enter the city.
