Frequently Asked Questions

We are currently in the conceptual design phase for the Brooklyn Queens Connector (BQX) and are seeking feedback from the community. These answers are based on the current proposal and will be refined as part of our current process.

1. During what hours would the streetcar operate? Would it be a 24-hour service? How frequently would service run?

The BQX would run seven days a week, from 5–1 am on weekdays and 6–2 am on weekends. Streetcar service would arrive every five minutes during peak travel times. Overnight service has not been ruled out, and we will be reexamining these hours as part of our current work.

2. How much would it cost to ride?

The fare for BQX is expected to parallel the MTA subway and bus fare and would include free transfers between the BQX and MTA subways and buses.

3. Won’t the BQX get stuck behind traffic or double-parked vehicles?

To ensure fast and efficient transportation, the proposed route places the BQX in a transit-only lane as much as possible—about 90 percent of the route.

4. Wouldn’t an express bus or bus rapid transit (BRT) be a better option along this route? 

We are actively exploring BRT as an alternative transportation option to be compared to a streetcar as part of the environmental review process. Selection of the alternatives to be studied in the Environmental Impact Statement will be based on community feedback, engineering feasibility, and other considerations.

5. How does this relate to the MTA’s borough bus redesigns?

NYC Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) is closely coordinating with MTA on the redesigns, and MTA’s redesign work reflects the need for faster, more efficient service along this corridor. These redesigns will benefit riders in the near term, while the BQX would provide long-term, permanent benefits.

6. How will the BQX affect small businesses that need the street for loading and parking?

Streetcars and other transit modes generally increase nearby pedestrian activity, which helps neighborhood businesses. While the BQX may require businesses to adjust the way they operate, the City will work with business communities to develop strategies that ensure the continued feasibility of deliveries on streets where curb access is affected. 

7. How would the BQX address flooding, sea-level rise, and other resiliency issues?

 Building a new transit service within and adjacent to the flood plain presents an opportunity to incorporate resiliency best practices into the BQX’s design and operations at the outset. These include elevating electrical equipment, strengthening overhead wires, fortifying maintenance facilities, and hardening the track bed to withstand flooding. In addition, the BQX would have emission-free operations that would contribute to NYC’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.

8. What will the project cost to construct?

The estimated cost is approximately $2.7 billion for a streetcar along the ~11-mile corridor from Red Hook to Astoria. This estimate includes stations, the rail bed, electric-power supply, a maintenance and storage yard, utility relocation, roadway improvements, and a new bridge over the Newtown Creek.

9. How will the project be funded?

The investment in new transit would create value by providing better connection for the areas along the route. We are proposing a “value capture” structure, where the increased value of adjacent properties would be earmarked over 40 years to pay for approximately half the project, with federal funds covering the remaining costs. Private partnerships could provide an additional source of investment.

10. There are other areas in the city that also could benefit from investments in transit. Why was this area chosen?

While there are many other neighborhoods that are in need of additional transportation options, we believe the BQX would have the most impact in addressing the unique transportation issues facing this corridor, which includes some of the city’s fastest-growing neighborhoods, yet lacks a direct north-south transportation link. BQX is just one part of a larger citywide effort to improve transportation options for New Yorkers, which also includes significant investments in the MTA, expansion of NYC Ferry, initiatives like NYC DOT’s Better Buses Action Plan and Vision Zero, and projects like the 14th Street Busway.