New York City is always dreaming up new ways to get around, but it’s not every day that we get an entirely new train line.
And now, we’re getting a closer look at what one of the city’s biggest upcoming transit projects could actually look like. New renderings of the long-awaited Interborough Express, or IBX, have just been released, giving New Yorkers a first glimpse at the sleek new stations that could soon connect Brooklyn and Queens.
The $5.5 billion project would transform an existing rail corridor into a mostly above-ground light rail line with 18 new stations and 17 subway lines along the way, creating a brand-new cross-borough option for getting around the city without having to trek through Manhattan first.
And while the IBX is still years away from becoming a reality, these new images make it a little easier to imagine what this futuristic new piece of NYC’s transit system could eventually look like.
Source / MTA
Here’s everything we know about the IBX, including the new station renderings, its planned route and when New Yorkers could finally be able to ride it.
What the New IBX Station Renderings Reveal
The latest design concepts focus heavily on station architecture, highlighting an elevated stop at New Utrecht Avenue in Borough Park. Key visual and structural features planned for all 18 proposed stations include:
Universal Accessibility: Stations feature multiple wide-cab elevators and open-concept station platforms to ensure step-free access across the network.
Modern Station Design: Durable, low-maintenance floor tiles, expanded transparent safety barriers, enhanced LED overhead lighting, and wide-array fare gates designed to accommodate mobility devices and strollers.
Upgraded Passenger Tech: Next-generation digital arrival boards, high-contrast visual wayfinding, and optimized audio clarity for line-wide announcements.
Source / MTA
Route Overview and Commute Times
By operating along an active freight right-of-way, the IBX will allow riders to bypass Manhattan entirely when traveling between the outer boroughs.
Terminal Points: Brooklyn Army Terminal (Sunset Park / Bay Ridge) to Roosevelt Avenue (Jackson Heights, Queens).
End-to-End Travel Time: 32 minutes total trip time.
Subway Connections: Direct or adjacent transfers to 17 different subway lines (A, C, E, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 5, 7, B, D, F, M, J, Z, and L trains) plus the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).
Projected Impact: Expected to serve up to 160,000 daily riders across transit-starved neighborhoods like East Flatbush, Canarsie, and Maspeth.
Source / MTA
Subway Accessibility Upgrades Along the Route
To support full accessibility across the IBX corridor, the MTA is upgrading existing adjacent subway stations to comply with modern accessibility standards:
Junius Street / Livonia Avenue: L train and 3 train transfers.
Broadway Junction: Major hub connecting A, C, J, Z, and L lines.
Avenue I: Serving the F train.
Wilson Avenue: L train connection.
Source / MTA
Funding, Timeline, and Next Steps
While the IBX isn’t expected to begin revenue service until the 2030s, significant milestones lie directly ahead:
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): A draft of the project’s EIS is set to drop in the fall, kicking off formal public hearings and open-house sessions for community feedback.
Capital Funding: Approximately half of the required $5.5 billion funding is allocated in current MTA capital planning, with additional federal matching funds and future capital allocations needed to complete construction.