The MTA should build the planned Interborough Express as a fully automated system from the start, rather than face a costly retrofit down the road, according to a new report from the Effective Transit Alliance. The report was first shared exclusively with amNewYork.

The ETA argues that the IBX should be designed as an automated light metro, a model that uses driverless trains running on tracks completely separated from the road, unlike conventional light rail. Because automated trains cost less to operate, the group says, the line could run more frequent service at all hours, and more frequent service would translate into greater capacity.

“Now it’s time for them to continue the good work and select the right technology for the line: automated light metro,” said Blair Lorenzo, the ETA’s executive director, in a statement. “Automation allows for frequent trains at all times of the day at a low cost.” NYU’s Marine Institute released its own study last year also calling for full automation of the IBX.

The IBX is a $5.5 billion project that would use existing freight rail corridors between Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and Jackson Heights, Queens, to create a new 18-station line. The MTA says it would carry riders end to end in 30 minutes and connect to 17 subway lines. The ETA points to the project’s swelling ridership forecast as evidence that the line needs room to grow: projected daily ridership has risen 82 percent, from 87,000 to 160,000, since the initial feasibility study in 2022. “Frequent service drives ridership on any line, and that is especially true for routes like the IBX, where many riders will be making transfers,” Lorenzo said.

The report also makes a cost argument. According to the ETA, automation has become the global standard for newly built metro lines, with 73 percent of lines built last year fully automated. It is not new to New York, either: the JFK AirTrain already operates without drivers. Higher frequency, the report says, allows a system to run smaller trains into smaller stations, and shorter stations would lower the IBX’s capital cost without sacrificing capacity. The group also contends that off-peak service would be cheaper to expand because the trains would not be staffed by unionized operators and conductors, as most city subway lines are.

Whether any of that happens is far from settled. According to the report, MTA staff working on the IBX have “expressed a strong preference for automation,” but they consider the decision to be one for the MTA board. A second complication is Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents subway workers and is currently negotiating a new contract with the MTA. The union has firmly opposed the agency’s efforts to expand automation on existing subway lines by eliminating conductors, and it has pushed legislation in recent years to block the expansion of one-person train operation, known as OPTO. The latest bill to ban OPTO on most lines passed both houses of the state legislature this year and now awaits approval or rejection from Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The ETA also made two further recommendations: that the MTA install platform screen doors to reduce the risk of people jumping, falling or being pushed onto the tracks, and that it choose high-floor light metro trains over light rail vehicles, since the line is no longer planned to run on city streets.

“Both automation and ALM in particular are right for the IBX,” Lorenzo said. “And now is the right time for the MTA to commit to them.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Interborough Express (IBX)?

The Interborough Express is a $5.5 billion project that would use existing freight rail corridors to create a new 18-station line between Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and Jackson Heights, Queens. The MTA says it would carry riders end to end in 30 minutes and connect to 17 subway lines.

Why does the Effective Transit Alliance want the IBX to be driverless?

The ETA argues that automated trains cost less to operate, which would allow more frequent service at all hours and avoid a costly retrofit later. The group also says off-peak service would be cheaper to expand without unionized operators and conductors.

How much has projected IBX ridership increased?

Projected daily ridership has risen 82 percent, from 87,000 to 160,000, since the initial feasibility study in 2022. The ETA cites this growth as evidence the line needs room to expand.

Who opposes automating the IBX and subway lines?

Transport Workers Union Local 100 opposes subway automation. A state bill banning one-person train operation on most lines passed the legislature this year and awaits Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision.

Who makes the final decision on whether the IBX will be driverless?

The final decision rests with the MTA board, even though MTA staff reportedly favor automation. The article does not indicate how the board will vote.

Editorial Transparency. A first draft of this story was produced with AI-assisted writing tools, then reviewed for accuracy and tone by the named editor before publication. More on our process: Editorial Policy.