Report on the Interborough Express (IBX) Project and Sustainable Development Goals

Project Overview and Strategic Alignment

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has initiated the environmental review for the Interborough Express (IBX) project, a significant infrastructure development aimed at enhancing public transit in New York. This project is a direct contribution to building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). By connecting the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, the IBX is designed to create more inclusive and sustainable urban development, directly supporting SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the project’s role in improving commutes for over 160,000 daily riders, framing it as a transformational initiative. The project will utilize existing freight lines, an innovative approach to expanding transit capacity while minimizing new construction footprints.

Environmental Review Process

The commencement of the environmental review, mandated by the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act, marks a critical milestone. This process is fundamental to ensuring the project adheres to principles of environmental sustainability and climate resilience, key targets of SDG 13 (Climate Action). The review will assess potential environmental benefits and impacts, ensuring the infrastructure development is responsible and sustainable.

Key stages of the review include:

1. A series of public meetings for community engagement and transparent communication.
2. The production of a Draft Scoping Document.
3. The development of a draft Environmental Impact Statement.

This process runs concurrently with the preliminary engineering and design phase, demonstrating a commitment to integrated and forward-thinking project management.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Interborough Express project is intrinsically linked to several key SDGs. MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber noted that the project serves approximately 900,000 residents along its proposed route, highlighting its potential for widespread social and economic impact.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The IBX will provide a safe, affordable, and accessible public transport option, reducing travel times between boroughs to an estimated 32 minutes. This enhances connectivity and makes the city more inclusive and sustainable.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The project represents a major investment in quality, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure designed to support economic development and human well-being.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: By offering an efficient alternative to private vehicle use, the IBX is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing directly to climate change mitigation efforts.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The construction and operation of this major transit line will create jobs and stimulate economic activity in the connected communities.

Projected Impacts and Benefits

The primary objective of the Interborough Express is to provide a transformative transit link connecting communities in Brooklyn and Queens to subway lines, bus services, and the Long Island Rail Road. This integration is expected to yield significant reductions in travel times and improve access to economic opportunities for residents, thereby fostering a more equitable and prosperous urban environment consistent with the overarching aims of the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • The article focuses on the development of a major piece of public infrastructure, the Interborough Express (IBX). This project directly aligns with SDG 9’s goal to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. The IBX is described as a “transformational project” and a “major infrastructure project,” which is the core focus of this goal.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The project is designed to make New York City more sustainable and inclusive by improving its public transportation system. The article states the IBX will “connect Brooklyn and Queens to the subway, bus lines and the Long Island Rail Road” and serve the “900,000 New Yorkers” who live along the route. By improving commutes for “over 160,000 daily riders” and reducing travel times, the project directly contributes to creating safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems, a key component of SDG 11.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • While not explicitly mentioning climate change, the article highlights a crucial step in the project: the environmental review. The article states, “The environmental review… is required as part of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act” and will “assess the potentially significant environmental benefits and impacts of the IBX project.” This process represents the integration of environmental and climate considerations into national and regional planning. Furthermore, large-scale public transit projects are a key strategy for climate action by reducing reliance on personal vehicles and thereby lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.

   • The Interborough Express is a direct example of developing quality and reliable transport infrastructure. The article emphasizes its role in improving human well-being by stating it will “dramatically improve the commutes of over 160,000 daily riders” and “reduce travel times between the two boroughs.”

2. Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all… notably by expanding public transport…

   • The article’s entire focus is on the expansion of public transport. The IBX project is described as a “transit investment that will connect Brooklyn and Queens,” explicitly aiming to provide new and improved transport access for the “900,000 New Yorkers” living along its route.

3. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

   • The mandatory “environmental review process” mentioned in the article is a direct implementation of this target. By conducting an Environmental Impact Statement as part of the “New York State Environmental Quality Review Act,” the MTA is formally integrating environmental (and by extension, climate) considerations into the planning and development of this major infrastructure project.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for Targets 9.1 and 11.2

   • Passenger Volume/Access: The article provides specific numbers that can be used as indicators of the project’s reach and impact. These include the projected “over 160,000 daily riders” and the “900,000 New Yorkers” who live along the route, which serve as direct measures of the population served by the new transport infrastructure.
   • Efficiency of Transport: The article mentions that the project is “expected to reduce travel times between the two boroughs, with an end-to-end run time of 32 minutes.” This travel time is a specific, measurable indicator of the infrastructure’s quality and efficiency.

2. Indicator for Target 13.2

   • Implementation of Environmental Planning: The primary indicator mentioned is the formal process of the environmental review itself. The article states, “The environmental review, a major milestone for the IBX… is required as part of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act.” The commencement and completion of this review, including the production of a “Draft Scoping Document” and a “draft Environmental Impact Statement,” serve as tangible indicators that environmental and climate measures are being integrated into the project’s planning phase.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: transportationtodaynews.com