NEW YORK — New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority will build its first light rail line under plans announced this week for the Interborough Express project, which will connect Brooklyn and Queens on an existing Long Island Rail Road freight right-of-way that will connect 17 subway lines and LIRR passenger service.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the preference for the light rail option for the route as part of her State of the State address earlier this week. She had first announced plans for the Interborough Express in her 2022 State of the State speech.
The MTA says a planning study supports the choice of light rail over heavy rail and bus rapid transit options for the 14-mile line because it will provide the best service at the lowest cost per rider, based on factors such as capacity, construction costs, and the ability to purchase trainsets off the shelf. That study indicates the service would be used by up to 115,000 weekday riders and up to 34.6 million riders annually. Trains would operate on headways of up to 5 minutes during peak periods and up to 10 minutes at other times.
“Moving forward with light rail for the Interborough Express means better access to jobs, education and economic opportunities for some 900,000 New Yorkers in Queens and Brooklyn,” MTA CEO Janno Lieber said. “I want to thank Governor Hochul for her leadership on this exciting project and look forward to working with stakeholders and local communities to move the proposed project forward.”
Streetsblog NYC reports that at least some transit advocates are concerned about selection of the light rail option because it does not integrate into the rest of the existing rail transit network, quoting Renae Reynolds, executive director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, as saying, “It’s time to break free from the fragmented, patchwork transit system that leaves too many people stranded and disconnected. … Our region deserves a seamless transit network that works for everyone.”
Other transit initiatives included in Hochul’s address included expansion of the MTA’s City Ticket, a flat-fare rate for Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road travel within New York City, to include peak hours, and $10 million in funds for non-MTA agencies in the state.
