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10/20/2025
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority last week began the environmental review process for the proposed Interborough Express (IBX) passenger-rail system under New York state environmental law requirements.
The environmental review process is the first major step reached for the IBX since the project entered preliminary engineering and design in August. The review will assess potential significant environmental benefits and impacts of the IBX project, MTA officials said in a press release.
The IBX calls for a rail service that would connect underserved areas of Brooklyn and Queens to the subway, bus and MTA Long Island Rail Road. The project also will reduce travel times between the two boroughs, with an end-to-end run time of 32 minutes along an existing 14-mile freight line owned by the MTA and CSX.
In August, the MTA Board authorized the selection of a joint venture between Jacobs and HDR, which will oversee design and engineering of a light-rail system.
“The IBX will dramatically improve the commutes of over 160,000 daily riders and we are moving full-speed ahead to keep this transformational project on track,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in a press release. “Beginning environmental review is yet another statement of intent that in New York, we don’t just talk about major infrastructure projects, we build them.”