By Katie Vasquez
Public transportation has always been a part of St. Patrick Church’s pastor, Father Brian Dowd’s daily routine dating back to childhood.
“It was a long ride, to come from Queens to come to Brooklyn,” said Father Dowd, “I always found it to be an adventure.”
And over in Jackson Heights, Queens, Father Christopher Heanue says taking a bus or train is common for both him and his parishioners.
“Sometimes it’s the quickest way to get to where you need to go,” he told Currents News.
That distance could soon be cut down with the emergence of the Interborough Express, or IBX.
The all-electric light rail system will span 14 miles with stations between Roosevelt Avenue and the Brooklyn Army terminal, and is expected to provide end-to-end travel in just 32 minutes.
“Basically, a short cut in our diocese between one part to another,” is how Father Dowd anticipates the travel experience will be.
Earlier this month the environmental review process for the project started, marking a big step in the light rail becoming a reality.
Workers who will be designing the pathway won’t have to lay new tracks down between Brooklyn and Queens: the IBX will utilize an existing freight corridor.
On top of making commutes easier, pastors in Brooklyn and Queens believe the light rail could be a tool for evangelization.
“I think that a lot of people wanted to do more of the churches on the pilgrimage route for the Lenten journey,” explained Father Dowd, “but I think that they found it more difficult, especially from this part of Brooklyn.”
“Visiting other churches like we do during the Lenten Pilgrimage, I think that allows people to open up their eyes more to the universality and the beauty of that of the Universal Church, ” added Father Heanue.
They both also feel having a priest’s presence on public transportation could be a way to connect with those who have strayed from their faith.
“I don’t think connectedness is a bad thing. I think it’s a nice idea to be able to be more united,” said Father Heanue.
“Being with the people, it’s like we feel we’re shoulder-an- shoulder going on a destination, just like we do in our faith,” said Father Dowd.
It’s still a long way before the line is complete, with estimates that it could be operational in the early 2030s.