Overview

• On July 30, the MTA board approved a $166 million Jacobs/HDR contract for full design of the 14-mile Interborough Express.
• The agreement covers engineering surveys, geotechnical and environmental studies, structure inspections, third-party negotiations and public outreach.
• The light-rail line will repurpose an underused freight corridor with 19 stops from Roosevelt Avenue in Queens to the Brooklyn Army Terminal, linking to 17 subway lines and 50 bus routes.
• Total construction is estimated at $5.5 billion, funded through the MTA’s $68.4 billion 2025–2029 capital plan, with operations targeted for the early 2030s.
• The two-year design phase is scheduled to run through 2027, after which corridor preparation and phased construction will begin.