Update On Today's RIOC Board Meeting Concerning Roosevelt Island Tram Modernization - Matter Tabled

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The first item on the Agenda of today's RIOC Board of Directors meeting was:

Aerial Tramway Modernization Project: Authorization to Enter Design/Build and Operating & Management Contracts (Additional Materials to Follow – Board Action Required)

I inquired of RIOC President Shane:

I was not able to make this morning's Board meeting and web cast is not yet available.

Was a decision made on who won the bid for the Tram Modernization Project? If so, who will it be and can you provide any additional details as to the final decision on the extent of the work to be done?

Mr. Shane repllied:

Matter was tabled for 2 weeks

No other information available at this time. Stay tuned.

UPDATE 10/26 - The 10/25 Main Street WIRE reports (PDF File):

The RIOC Board has delayed - perhaps for two weeks – a final go ahead on the tramway upgrade that has been in planning stages for several months. Two members, Jonathan Kalkin and Kathie Grimm, said they want more information before voting. Three others, Charlee Miller, Patrick Stewart, and Fay Christian, agreed that there should be a delay to give them time to become comfortable with the $25 million decision.

The action came Thursday morning in the Board’s regular meeting on a motion by Kalkin. Board chair Deborah VanAmerongen, who is commissioner of the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), resident Board member David Kraut, and the representative of the state budget office voted against the delay.

... Kalkin explained his reservations about voting in Thursday’s meeting by saying, “This may be the best idea, but I don’t feel I’ve been given enough information in a timely manner to make a decision at this point.”

... Board chair VanAmerongen said, “I will share a frustration with you,” and went on to indicate that she felt the RIOC staff had been responsible and as timely as possible in getting pre-vote information to Board members. She said she felt Board members should have taken greater initiative in seeking out the information the RIOC staff could provide. “I am willing to wait two weeks,” she said....

The web cast of the 10/23 RIOC Board meeting is now online.