On a cold November morning, Mavis Williams, a New York Presbyterian Methodist Hospital nurse, puts on her coat. Williams resides in Queens, New York, one of the five boroughs in New York City. She commutes from Queens to Brooklyn on weekdays, taking one bus and three trains. Currently, her commute is two hours and 15 minutes, both ways, making her commute a total of four hours every day.
New York City is on its way to becoming the first U.S. city to charge drivers for entering its busiest areas. The Congestion Pricing Plan or Central Business District Tolling Program (CBD) would charge drivers who enter Manhattan at specific points of the day. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) would receive the money from the charge. Before COVID-19, more than 75% of trips into the area south of 60th Street in Manhattan were made by bus, subway, commuter railroad, or ferry. Once the CBD runs, 80% of the money will be used to improve and modernize New York City Transit, which runs the subway system and buses.
To understand her commute and what she goes through twice a day, I decided to commute with her to better understand the need for more effective interborough transportation. We left her house in Queens at 6:45 AM; we took a 10-minute walk to catch the Q5 bus. I immediately started a timer to document the commute time. “I can take the regular Q5 or the Q5 limited-- both buses will get me to Jamaica Center. However, I prefer the Q5 limited since it makes fewer stops,” Williams said. Another way she can get to work is using the Long Island Railroad (LIRR), which is also owned and operated by the MTA. Using the railroad is significantly more expensive than her typical commute since the MTA raised the fare from $2.75 to $2.90 in 2019.
Q5 limited and regular bus stop in Laurelton, New York. (Gabby Augustin-Orcel)
We walk up two flights upstairs and walk half a block to her job. The commute is long and requires everything to be on time. However, if the Interborough Express existed, it would cut down on her commute time and the different transfers that occur during her commute.
Nostrand Avenue. (Gabby Augustin-Orcel)
The infrastructure project would connect Brooklyn and Queens and would serve as a critical transportation justice solution. The train would run every five minutes during peak hours and every fifteen minutes at all other hours of the day. The route would utilize an existing rail line that runs through Brooklyn and Queens. As of 2023, retrofitting, safety, and creation of train stops need to be added—the rail line is already there; it is just waiting for the actual train.
Regarding fares, the MTA board will determine the fare at the line's opening, but they believe it will be the same as all buses and trains, which is $2.90. Also, a few neighborhoods in New York City, like Elmhurst, Kensington, and others, are currently not served by the MTA rail or bus transit system, but the Interborough Express would change that.
People could ride and transfer to other trains and buses by creating stops on the route. By having The Interborough Express, more people could easily access different parts of the city, which can expose them to other opportunities, specifically jobs. The proposed route would serve people living below the federal poverty line, which allows them to access food, healthcare, and more.
Damien Caines, an MTA Police Dispatch Supervisor states, "it is unrealistic to say that The Interborough Express will be completed within two to three years". He also said that the city is “talking about a transit system over 100 years old.” There are newer infrastructure projects within the MTA system that take precedence over The Interborough Express. Therefore, the infrastructure project is in between the proposal and construction phases.
The image on the left: Proposed Interborough Express Route. (Courtesy of the MTA)
Also, the project would serve close to 900,000 people who live nearby and around. In 2023, some progress has been made in getting The Interborough Express into existence. During November, there will be a series of engagement events where the community can learn more about the environmental review process, how to get involved, and share feedback.
The Interborough Express track (far left) and the N-train tracks (far right) in 2023. (Gabby Augustin-Orcel)
Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City, says he likes the idea of a car-less New York City. However, to achieve that idea, there needs to be a serious investment in the MTA, and the CBD plan would make that possible.
However, focusing on the present, the lack of effective interborough transit affects real people like Mavis. The Interborough Express isn’t facing opposition. However, it is not one of the MTA’s priorities when regarding infrastructure. Not only would the route benefit the average New Yorker, but it would also help the business around the proposed route.