Opinion: The IBX is a lifeline for Brooklyn College, CUNY and New York City

Brooklyn College reflects the greatest borough that is its namesake.

Our students come from working-class backgrounds, are immigrants or the children of immigrants and are blazing new trails as the first in their families to attend college. Coming from 142 nations and speaking 94 different languages, they bring rich life experiences and reflect the vibrant mix of cultures that make our campus and the borough so unique.

Our students also juggle jobs, care for family members and navigate complex responsibilities, all while showing incredible drive and resilience in pursuit of their degrees.

But one persistent barrier Brooklyn College students face isn’t academic: it’s geographic.

The campus resides in the heart of the huge borough but draws students from every corner of New York City and beyond. Our students from Queens, Long Island and other distant locations endure punishing commutes – sometimes 90 minutes or more each way – just to get to class. These long journeys steal time from working, caring for family and resting. For some, extended commutes end up forcing them to drop out.

Supported by Gov. Kathy Hochul, the MTA’s Interborough Express (IBX), a 14-mile rail line connecting Bay Ridge in Brooklyn to Jackson Heights in Queens, will do more than improve transit; it will unlock opportunities. For our students and those across CUNY, it’s not just a train. It’s a lifeline.

Connecting underserved neighborhoods across Brooklyn and Queens will make college more accessible to thousands of people. It will allow many to choose their college based on best fit, rather than just proximity. And it will help CUNY to continue to fulfill its mission of being a gateway to the middle class and beyond.

According to Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso’s Comprehensive Plan for Brooklyn, CUNY associate degree holders earn 67% more than those without a post-secondary credential, and bachelor’s degree holders earn a staggering 106% more in earnings over a lifetime.

Over half of CUNY graduates enter essential industries such as healthcare, education and social services. Our graduates don’t just uplift themselves and their families – they strengthen the very infrastructure of our communities. Many remain in New York, contributing billions in local and state tax revenue and reinforcing the economic vitality of the region.

A recent study determined that Brooklyn College alone contributes $2.6 billion annually to New York City in economic impact. The study also revealed that Brooklyn College students enjoy significant long-term financial benefits. On average, graduates with a bachelor’s degree earn $41,200 more per year than individuals with only a high school diploma. Over a lifetime, this translates to an estimated $1.7 million in additional earnings per graduate – a powerful testament to the enduring value of education.

Our success is intertwined with the vibrancy of our neighborhoods, our borough and our city. When our students thrive, so do Flatbush, Midwood, Jackson Heights, Harlem and every other community we touch.

Our faculty and students support the plan to build the IBX. Brooklyn College Sociology Professor Gregory Smithsimon, who directs the Center for the Study of Brooklyn, has researched the IBX, and one highlight of his research is the rail line’s climate resilience. Unlike subway tunnels that are vulnerable to flooding during severe storms, the IBX benefits from being elevated on a 12-foot embankment, making it resistant to inundation and service disruptions.

Student researchers Paris Ricketts and Adam Shavit have also explored how the IBX integrates into the city’s current transit ecosystem. Their analysis reveals that, with a strategically expanded Citi Bike network, nearly one million residents would be within a five-minute ride of an IBX station, which would dramatically enhance accessibility and multimodal connectivity across the boroughs.

The IBX is a bold investment in equity, mobility and the future of New York City. It will support the next generation of New Yorkers working across all fields: teachers, nurses, engineers and entrepreneurs. It will also support the value of a Brooklyn College education, which Forbes ranks as #1 in the nation for return on investment. And it will ensure that opportunity is not just a promise, but a reality that arrives on time.

I urge the MTA to move forward with the IBX project. Our students are ready to rise. Let’s make sure this new infrastructure is there to lift them.