Expanding access to public transit will be a priority for the State of New York, Governor Kathy Hochul announced during her 2024 State of the State address. The largest components of this effort are completing the Second Avenue Subway (SAS) Extension and creating the Interborough Express (IBX) orbital bus line in Brooklyn and Queens.
Phase Two of the SAS Extension will connect the 106th Street, 116th Street, and 125th Street subway stations on the Second Avenue subway line with seven other subway lines—the 1, 2, 3, A, B, C, and D—and over 20 bus routes, catering to approximately 240,000 daily commuters and closing critical transit gaps. Bloomberg puts the cost of the SAS Extension at approximately $7.6 billion, although the State is exploring alternative approaches that could reduce the project cost by approximately $400 million.
The IBX line will connect Brooklyn and Queens via a 16-mile abandoned LIRR freight line, known as the Bay Ridge Branch. IBX would make it possible for riders to travel from Bay Ridge to Jackson Heights in about 30 minutes. It’s estimated that the IBX would serve 40 million riders annually; the project cost is projected at $5 billion.
Along with other transit initiatives like improved safety and an MTA Infrastructure Hub, Governor Hochul also plans to prioritize the engagement of local contractors for major infrastructure projects.
