Canady, who specializes in new development, sales and property management, said the massive transit project will open new doors for Brooklyn and Queens residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe IBX will make Brooklyn and Queens more connected, and that means there\u2019s going to be new opportunities for homeowners, buyers and the community to grow together,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s the exciting part to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/map-ibx-mta-07-30-.jpg\" "\\"IBX:")
The proposed IBX route.MTA<\/p>\n
The IBX line train route is shaped like a reversed letter \u201cC\u201d and will run between southern and eastern Brooklyn and Central Queens. Neighborhoods on the route include Sunset Park, Borough Park, Midwood, Flatbush, Brownsville, East New York, New Lots, Bushwick, Ridgewood, Middle Village, Maspeth, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Each community along the IBX \u201chas its own personality\u201d<\/p>\n
Real estate reps explained that each neighborhood would be impacted by the IBX in different ways.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEach community has its own personality, just like people do,\u201d Canady said. \u201cWhat matters most is helping people see those opportunities and any change. Some neighborhoods might need to adapt to a busier pace, but that can also mean more energy.\u201d<\/p>\n
For neighborhoods like Glendale, Maspeth and Middle Village, where direct access by public transit to Manhattan and other locations has historically been a challenge, the IBX is expected to be a game-changer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But residents in these neighborhoods have expressed concerns about the possibility of major disruptions in their mostly suburban-like communities. Some of their concerns include possibilities of more noise and crowds. With several cemeteries flanking the route, other concerns are more personal for some Queens residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father is buried near those tracks and they are going to disturb him and many others,\u201d local resident Debbie Hippie said.\n<\/p>\n
Crowds are a common concern.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s crowded enough as it is. We don\u2019t need another station in this neighborhood,\u201d a Glendale resident said.\n<\/p>\n
Other residents are looking forward to the IBX, like Jason and his family, who live in Maspeth.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really convenient for me,\u201d he said. \u201cI do go to the Brooklyn Army Terminal a lot and it will cut my commute. I won\u2019t have to go through Manhattan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Social media showed that many Brooklyn residents are welcoming to the idea of public transit connection to Queens.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about time,\u201d one commenter said. \u201cNot all roads lead to Manhattan anymore.\u201d
\n![\"houses](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/maspeth-houses-barbara-lennon-081025.jpg\" "\\"IBX:")
Properties near the freight train track in Maspeth, Queens.Photo by Barbara Russo-Lennon\n<\/p>\n
The MTA conducted public engagement meetings in 2022 and 2023 about the project. More opportunities for comments are planned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the meantime, Queens City Council Member Robert Holden, whose district includes parts of the IBX route, called the project \u201cvague,\u201d and leaves him with more questions than answers for his constituents. One of his district\u2019s primary concerns is about upzoning \u2014 which centers around zoning changes to allow for higher buildings with higher density development in a given area.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo now we are hearing that they want to upzone any area that\u2019s within a certain radius of the stations or the train,\u201d Holden explained. \u201cSo now they will put high-density or taller buildings in one-family or two-family zones. That\u2019s totally unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Holden said at first, he was open to hearing more about the IBX, especially as congestion increases within the city, and the NYC Department of Transportation is \u201ccreating more obstacles\u201d with less travel lanes on the road.<\/p>\n
But he has \u201cmore negatives now than ever\u201d about the project.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThey essentially want to change the character of our neighborhood,\u201d the council member said. \u201cWe love the fact that we can sit in our backyards and feel the sunshine on our faces. Anything that jeopardizes that, you really have to fight it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cQuieter enclaves\u201d like Middle Village or Borough Park might \u201cfeel the pinch\u201d<\/p>\n
Mariya Fuzaylova, a broker at ValueTruth Real Estate, explained that it is difficult to spot outright real estate losses, as property values generally rise with transit enhancements. However, it is possible that more crowds and noise could deter families from buying in the areas, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cQuieter enclaves such as Middle Village or Borough Park might feel the pinch if crowds and noise erode their suburban charm, potentially turning off families who are looking to settle down,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gentrification could displace longstanding locals as well, indirectly with the changes to the community, Fuzaylova added.\u00a0
\n![\"railroad](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/interborough-express-rail-line-mta-trent-reeves-1.jpg\" "\\"IBX:")
The Interborough Express (IBX) will be built along an underutilized freight rail line running through Brooklyn and Queens.Trent Reeves\/MTA\n<\/p>\n
However, experts said that having an interborough train connection could introduce tens of thousands of new homes along the route through rezoning, possibly helping to alleviate the city\u2019s housing crisis.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could unlock 70,000 or more new units along the route through rezoning, easing supply shortages in underserved areas and serving high-poverty pockets better,\u201d Fuzaylova said. \u201cFaster commutes mean more access to jobs, indirectly boosting affordability if paired with mandates for lower-income housing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jamie Torres-Springer, MTA president of construction and development, shared a statement with amNewYork saying that the agency agrees with those who see the IBX\u2019s potential.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe strongly agree with those who see the potential for IBX to better connect Brooklyn and Queens and transform life for the 900,000 nearby residents and 260,000 nearby workers,\u201d he said. \u201cWe look forward to working with community and local leaders as the design process moves forward to plan for the future throughout neighborhoods touched by this transformative project.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roosevelt Avenue, Brooklyn Army Terminal, other areas are expected to see big initial gains<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/20241029_115234.jpg\" "\\"IBX:")
The tracks of the Bay Ridge Branch in Jackson Heights, where one day the Interborough Express might be running.Photo by Ben Brachfeld<\/p>\n