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1/12/2023
The Interborough Express line project in New York City will move forward using light rail following a planning and environmental linkages study, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week during her state-of-the-state address.
The 14-mile line would connect neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens to 17 subway lines and the MTA Long Island Rail Road, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials said in a press release.
The Interborough Express would use the existing right-of-way of the Bay Ridge Branch and Fremont Secondary lines. Bay Ridge Branch is owned by LIRR, while Fremont Secondary is owned by CSX.
The project’s planning study chose light rail because it provided the best service for riders at the lowest cost per rider, MTA officials said. Projected ridership is measured at 115,000 weekday riders — 34.6 million annually — with a construction budget of $5.5 billion.
The Interborough Express would also advance transit equity, with the majority of anticipated riders being people of color, half of riders coming from households with no cars, and a third of riders coming from households living at or below 150% of the federal poverty line, MTA officials said.
Proposed service would operate at up to five-minute headways during peak periods and up to 10 minutes at off-peak periods. Neighborhoods that would be served include Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Borough Park, Kensington, Midwood, Flatbush, Flatlands, New Lots, Brownsville, East New York, Bushwick, Ridgewood, Middle Village, Maspeth, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights.