DHS Shelter Planned for 1024 Flatbush Ave

Interborough Express Project 

The Interborough Express is a transformative light rail transit project that will connect currently underserved areas of Brooklyn and Queens. It will substantially cut down on travel times between the two boroughs, reduce congestion, and expand economic opportunities for the people who live and work in the surrounding neighborhoods.

The project will be built along the existing, LIRR-owned Bay Ridge Branch and CSX-owned Fremont Secondary, a 14-mile freight line that extends from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, to Jackson Heights, Queens. It will create a new transit option for close to 900,000 residents of the neighborhoods along the route, along with 260,000 people who work in Brooklyn and Queens. It will connect with up to 17 different subway lines, as well as Long Island Rail Road, with end-to-end travel times anticipated at less than 32 minutes. Daily weekday ridership is estimated at 160,000.  

Using the existing rail infrastructure means the Interborough Express will be built more quickly and efficiently. It will also preserve the Bay Ridge Branch’s use as a freight line, providing an opportunity to connect to the Port Authority’s Cross-Harbor Freight Project.

After extensive planning, analysis, and public engagement, light rail was chosen because it will provide the best service for riders at the best value.

Project benefits

• A direct public transit option between Brooklyn and Queens

• Connections with up to 17 subway lines and Long Island Rail Road

• A faster commute—end-to-end rides are expected to take 32 minutes

• Expanded 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