Interborough Express Reaches New Milestone in Road to Reality
Governor Hochul gives the go-ahead for the Brooklyn-to-Queens light-rail line to undergo environmental review, a key step for the mega-project.

Governor Kathy Hochul and MTA Chairperson and CEO Janno Lieber walk along a section of the projected path of the IBX in Brooklyn, August 1, 2025. Photo by Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
by Lauren Hartley
This article was originally published on October 15 at 5:01 p.m. EDT by THE CITY
A long-dreamed-about line that would link Brooklyn and Queens via light rail can begin the environmental-review process, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday.
It’s a key step for the $5.5 billion Interborough Express, which the state anticipates will eventually move 160,000 riders daily along 14 miles of a little-used freight railway. The proposed mega-project would run between Bay Ridge and Jackson Heights, connecting to 17 subway lines, 50 bus routes, and two Long Island Rail Road stations.
The light-rail line has been touted by officials as a “game-changer” for riders in areas of the city with limited transit options — especially for those who want to travel between the two boroughs without having to commute through Manhattan.
What this means
The environmental review is a necessary step for approval of a project which already has $2.75 billion set aside for design and engineering work as part of the MTA’s $68.4 billion capital plan for 2025–2029.
The New York State Environmental Quality Review Act requires local government agencies to assess the potential environmental impacts of projects while also weighing their economic and social significance.
The review takes into account public feedback and will ultimately produce an environmental impact statement.
“It’s that last step before you actually start putting things in the ground, before you start digging and building,” said Blair Lorenzo, executive director of the Effective Transit Alliance.
Lorenzo added that such a project would typically receive some federal funding to kickstart the environmental review process. But the Trump administration has already put $18 billion on hold for the next phase of the 2nd Avenue Subway and a new rail tunnel in the Hudson River.
“The fact that they are doing it without any federal guarantee right now is, I think, a good sign of how committed they are — that this is a good idea and that they want to get it done regardless of national politics,” Lorenzo said.
The environmental review process generally takes two years to complete.
How to submit feedback
The MTA is accepting comments for the IBX environmental review phase. The authority is also hosting three public meetings where community members can voice comments in person or via Zoom. Here’s when and where to attend:
- Oct. 29, 2025, 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Brooklyn College Auditorium, 2900 Avenue H, Brooklyn, NY 11210
- Nov. 6, 2025, 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Christ the King High School Auditorium, 68-02 Metropolitan Avenue, Middle Village, NY 11379
- Nov. 12, 2025, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., online via Zoom
- Nov. 12, 2025, 6 to 8 p.m., online via Zoom
What this project could look like
Hochul has said the line will move riders end to end in 32 minutes.
Along the proposed route of the IBX, more than a third of residents live below the federal poverty line, according to the MTA. The transit authority anticipates it will create economic opportunities for the 900,000 people who live within a half mile, while easing commutes.
The transit expansion project is also seen as vital to further development in parts of Brooklyn and Queens, with more neighborhoods becoming draws for people to live and work.
The preliminary design and engineering work will continue alongside the environmental review process, with a construction contract set to be awarded once the design process is finished.
Related Stories
- State Takes $166 Million Step Toward Making Interborough Express a Reality
- Interborough Light Rail Project May Include a Tunnel Under Queens Cemetery
- MTA Capital Plan Includes Proposed Interborough Express Light Rail Project
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