New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the long-awaited light rail connection between Brooklyn and Queens has entered active development, but completion is still decades away.
The Interborough Express project, expected to cost $5.5 billion, will create 19 stations, connect with 17 subway lines, 50 bus routes, and two Long Island Rail Road hubs along a 14-mile track from Sunset Park, Brooklyn to Jackson Heights, Queens.
Riders can expect an end-to-end journey of just 32 minutes, saving them 30 minutes each way. The project is the first light rail line in New York City since the G train opened in 1937 and will be built entirely within the city limits.
Design work on the project has begun, with Jacobs and HDR selected to lead the effort at a $166 million cost. Construction is expected to start after completion of the design phase, which is now underway.
The rail link is seen as a major boost for commuters traveling between Brooklyn and Queens, reducing travel hassles and making it easier to visit family in different boroughs without having to pass through Manhattan first.
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/08/01/us-news/long-promised-5-5b-brooklyn-queens-rail-link-is-finally-moving-forward-but-wont-be-complete-till-the-2030s