The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit consultant bids to begin the preliminary engineering phase of the Interborough Express (IBX), which is expected to take approximately two years. This represents a major step in the design of the transformative transit project which will connect communities in Brooklyn and Queens to 17 subway lines, 51 current bus routes, the Long Island Rail Road at the East New York Station, as well as significantly reduce travel times within and between the two boroughs.
To date, the MTA has hosted more than 35 project meetings with elected officials, stakeholders and the public. This includes three virtual and five in-person open house meetings, including the most recent open house in East New York, Brooklyn, on Sept. 16. The in-person open house meetings have been attended by over 500 individuals, and additional public meetings will be announced in the future, including public hearings associated with environmental review process.
Since Governor Hochul announced the beginning of the environmental review phase of the IBX project in 2023, early environmental analyses have begun in anticipation of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approval to formally begin the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental review process. This Preliminary Engineering will include advancing design and engineering work to reach a 30% design, setting the stage for the issuing and award of future construction contracts.
Design Progress of the IBX
The project has undergone further refinement in the last year to ensure that it will provide the best service for passengers for the best value. Within the neighborhood of Middle Village, Queens, the MTA is advancing design of a tunnel solution beneath Metropolitan Avenue rather than on-street operations, making the proposed line less prone to travel delays due to mixed traffic operations. This would result in a shorter end-to-end travel time and a project that is more resilient with a dedicated right-of-way for rail operation, allowing the MTA to offer faster and more frequent service. Conceptual plans include expansion of the existing tunnel or a new tunnel adjacent to it.
Within the neighborhood of East New York, Brooklyn, the MTA is advancing design of a station location north of Atlantic Avenue within an MTA-controlled site. Locating an IBX station here will facilitate transfers to the and trains at the Broadway Junction station complex, as well as the LIRR East New York Station on Atlantic Avenue, creating further opportunities to move efficiently between IBX and the existing transit network and enhancing street activity.
The MTA has also reduced the total number of bridges along the project corridor that require reconstruction and identified stations where one center platform can be constructed instead of two platforms.
Funding
Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, preliminary engineering will be principally funded through New York State’s 2025 budget, which designated funding specifically for IBX. An additional $15,000,000 was awarded to the MTA by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT)’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant, which will fund a corridor assessment in support of preliminary engineering. USDOT has also provided $1 million to fund innovative finance expert services for the project. Thanks to Congressional Leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and also to Representatives Dan Goldman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Yvette Clarke for their support of the project.
The Preliminary Engineering contract will be awarded under the MTA’s 2020-2024 Capital Plan. An additional $2.75 billion for further project development and the start of construction is included in the MTA Board-approved 2025-2029 Capital Plan. The total estimated cost of the IBX project is $5.5 billion
-via Press Release
