A major transportation project in New York City is moving forward, with a joint venture of Jacobs and HDR selected to provide engineering consultancy services for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Interborough Express (IBX) Light Rail Project.
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The $5.5 billion initiative will deliver a 14-mile light railway line that connects communities in Brooklyn and Queens, two of the city’s most populous boroughs. The project is seen as one of the most ambitious transit expansions in recent years and a vital step toward easing commutes across borough lines without requiring trips through Manhattan.
The Jacobs-HDR joint venture will oversee several critical aspects of the design phase, including freight integration, tunnel retrofits, and major bridge modifications, while also providing advisory support on the project’s delivery strategy.
Jacobs’ executive vice-president Katus Watson emphasized the project’s transformative role for New York City transit. He noted that the line would “set a new standard for modern transit.”
The initiative has been strongly backed by state leadership. Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced that the IBX had officially advanced from planning to delivery. “The IBX is the sort of project that future generations will describe as a no-brainer, and thanks to funding we secured for the MTA’s Capital Plan, we’re not just talking about it, we’re getting it done,” she said.
The MTA highlights the project as not only a critical infrastructure investment but also a lifeline for millions of residents. MTA chair and chief executive Janno Lieber underscored the project’s social and economic impact: “The IBX is a life-changer for millions. It’s about time Brooklyn and Queens residents could move directly between our two most populous boroughs – for jobs, education, recreation and everything else.”
Once completed, the Interborough Express will provide direct connectivity across neighborhoods that have historically lacked efficient transit links, creating new opportunities for mobility, economic growth, and community connection in New York City.
Originally reported by Rod Sweet in Global Construction Review.
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