MTA Says Interborough Express Won’t Carry Riders Until 2031

MTA chair Janno Lieber said the Interborough Express light‑rail line between Brooklyn and Queens will not open for passengers until at least 2031, despite an accelerated design phase.

GMNA New York

MTA Says Interborough Express Won’t Carry Riders Until 2031

MTA chair Janno Lieber announced that the Interborough Express light‑rail line will not begin carrying passengers for at least five years, pushing any start of service to 2031 or later. The statement was made as the project moves through an accelerated design phase, but no timetable for actual operations was provided beyond the five‑year horizon.

The Interborough Express, a planned light‑rail connection linking Brooklyn and Queens, is part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s broader expansion agenda. While design work is advancing more quickly than originally scheduled, the agency emphasized that construction, testing and regulatory steps still require a substantial period before riders can be accommodated.

Lieber’s comments came amid ongoing discussions about the role of new transit links in the city’s transportation network. The Interborough Express is intended to provide a direct, cross‑borough route that could relieve congestion on existing subway lines and offer additional options for commuters traveling between the two boroughs. However, the timeline outlined by the MTA makes clear that the line will not be operational in the immediate future.

The five‑year estimate reflects the time needed to complete detailed engineering, secure funding, acquire necessary permits and finish the physical build‑out of the line. The MTA has not disclosed specific milestones within that period, nor has it provided a definitive opening date beyond the statement that service will not commence before 2031.

Stakeholders and community groups have been monitoring the project’s progress, noting that the Interborough Express could become a significant addition to the city’s transit infrastructure once completed. For now, the MTA’s announcement sets expectations that riders will have to wait several more years before the new light‑rail service becomes available.

The agency indicated that it will continue to provide updates as the design phase proceeds and as subsequent phases move forward toward construction and eventual operation.