Gov. Kathy Hochul and the MTA this week released new renderings of the proposed rail line between Brooklyn and Queens, as the design process moves “ahead of schedule.” The images of the Interborough Express reveal modern outdoor train stations for the light rail, which will include 18 fully accessible stations between Bay Ridge and Jackson Heights. Following the design and engineering phase, the agency plans to release a draft environmental impact statement later this year. The MTA also launched a revamped website for the project.
The $5.5 billion transit project seeks to address a long-standing gap in the city’s subway system: the lack of a direct transit connection between Brooklyn and Queens. By repurposing the existing Bay Ridge Branch, which runs 14 miles from Bay Ridge to Jackson Heights, the project would offer end-to-end travel in under 40 minutes.
A slew of transit-deprived neighborhoods would gain connections to 17 subway lines and 51 bus routes, vastly reducing travel times between the two boroughs.
These neighborhoods include Sunset Park, Borough Park, Kensington, Midwood, Flatbush, Flatlands, New Lots, Brownsville, East New York, Bushwick, Ridgewood, Middle Village, Maspeth, and Elmhurst.
The new renderings depict modern stations that would offer a contemporary look and feel compared with much of the existing subway system. A future station on New Utrecht Avenue in Borough Park could feature several elevators and wider fare gates.
All new stations along the IBX will use “universal design principles” intended to “maximize access and functionality” for riders. The stations will feature clear sightlines, tactile floor tiles, wide fare gates, pass-through elevators with wider cabs, level boarding across platforms, enhanced lighting, digital signage, and upgraded audio announcements and wayfinding.
The MTA is also currently working on accessibility upgrades at three non-accessible subway stations that will connect to the IBX.
Improvements at Broadway Junction are slated for completion by the end of 2027, while work at Junius Street on the 3 line is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Upgrades at Avenue I on the F line are expected to be completed by early 2028.
Upgrades at a fourth station, the Wilson Avenue L stop, have been expedited in the agency’s 2025-2029 Capital Plan. A contract for accessibility work at the station is expected to be awarded by mid-2027.
“For too many commuters, traveling between NY’s two largest boroughs can be lengthy, inconvenient, and inaccessible. That’s why the IBX promises to change everything for Brooklyn and Queens, and we aren’t wasting any time advancing this transformational project,” Hochul said.
“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 first unveiled plans for the Interborough Express in her 2022 State of the State address. Later that year, the MTA conducted a feasibility study that estimated the completed line would serve between 74,000 and 88,000 riders daily. In January 2023, the MTA announced that it would use light rail for the IBX.
In July 2025, the MTA awarded a nearly $166 million design contract for the project. The two-year agreement includes a “comprehensive scope of work.” The following October, the IBX entered the environmental review phase.
Now, the agency says it is moving ahead of schedule and plans to release a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) later this year.
The release of the DEIS will outline the progress made by the IBX project team and mark a significant milestone in the project’s development. It will also include a series of public meetings where Brooklyn and Queens residents will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the IBX.
The IBX team has already hosted nearly 30 pop-up events this summer, generating more than 7,000 engagements with local community members. The team has held roughly 140 outreach events across the project corridor to date.
In the spring, the IBX team met with all 14 community boards along the corridor and hosted public workshops to gather feedback on the design. The workshops drew more than 425 participants and generated more than 6,000 feedback responses.
“Mass transit should be the great equalizer: it should be affordable, reliable, and accessible. I’m thrilled that the long-awaited IBX is not only moving forward, but that existing stations are being prioritized for accessibility upgrades,” Assembly Member Clare Valdez said.
“The IBX is a transformative investment in public transit and in every working New Yorker’s ability to get where they need to go. I’m thrilled that it will be designed for everyone.”
RELATED:
- Interborough Express enters environmental review process
- MTA awards $166M design contract for Interborough Express
- 70,000 new homes could be built along Interborough Express with zoning changes
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