© 2024 WBGO
Discover Jazz...Anywhere, Anytime, on Any Device.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Bids now being accepted for Interborough Express

Marc A. Hermann/Metropolitan Transportation Auth

An MTA rail line that will be built to connect Brooklyn and Queens is taking a major step forward today.

The MTA is now opening the bidding process for the engineering phase of what's called the Interborough Express. It will take an unused freight line and turn it into a 14 mile long commuter rail line to connect communities in Brooklyn and Queens. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards says this will be a huge time saver.

"We are talking about a 40 minute end to end straight shot between our boroughs. We are talking about cutting commute times in half if not more. Returning time into working families pockets."

The Interborough Express is expected to take two years to complete and will connect communities in Brooklyn and Queens to 17 subway lines, 51 bus routes and the Long Island Rail Road.