Lack Of NYC Construction Crane Permits Delay Roosevelt Island Tram Work - Increasing Skepticism Tram Will Resume Service By Scheduled September Date

You Tube Video of Time Lapse Crane On NY Pier

Uh Oh - is it time to start being concerned that the Roosevelt Island Tram may be out of service longer than scheduled and not be ready to resume daily Tram service operations over the East River as promised for late August/Early September?

It appears that the Tram Modernization Program contractor Poma, which has little or no experience on New York City projects but is relying on others to guide it through the inner workings of local construction logistics, is having dificulty securing the required crane mobilization permits in a timely manner.

Here's why Roosevelt Island residents may need to get worried that the Tram will not be ready as originally promised. Yesterday, in preparation for a post on this weekend's scheduled Queensboro Bridge and Second Avenue/surrounding streets lane closures due to work on the Tram, I asked RIOC President Steve Shane:

...wanted to check that the RIOC advisories regarding lane closures for Queensboro Bridge and surrounding streets scheduled to begin this weekend are going forward and not changed before I post them on blog.

Mr. Shane replied:

The advisory for lane closures is rescinded as the work on 60th street has been postponed due to the continuing difficulties of POMA (and others) in obtaining crane mobilization permits in Manhattan.

I followed up with:

As of now, do the problems obtaining crane permits delay the resumption of Tram service from the scheduled late August/Early September date?

If not, at what point will the failure to obtain crane permits result in pushing back the scheduled start of Tram service?

Also, is POMA contractually penalized if they fail to deliver Tram Service by the Early September date if that failure was caused by the non- timely issuance of crane permits by the City or other appropriate governmental bodies?

and Mr. Shane responded:

POMA continues to state that the delay can be overcome. I grow increasingly skeptical. We push every day and are staying on top of the situation, but the work other than on the towers goes on. When it is on the critical path to ultimately delay delivery becomes a matter of judgment as to whether, when and where the effort and resources will be committed to make up the lost time.

POMA is contractually obligated to deliver the system and would be penalized with daily penalties as liquidated damages for late delivery in accordance with the terms of the contract. POMA would likely take a legal position to argue force majeure, but without an official embargo from the City, RIOC would obviously dispute their claim. So it goes in the construction business. We continue to push POMA and at the same time, try to assist with the City agencies having jurisdiction. Much bigger issue Citywide than RIOC"s & POMA's problem at both ends of the Tram. In everyone's best interest to get the project done as quickly as possible.

If Mr. Shane is becoming "increasingly skeptical", I am deeply worried that Roosevelt Island residents may have to wait much longer than the planned 6 months for the Roosevelt Island Tram to return to service.

Mr. Shane also addressed the Tram issue as it relates to cranes and weight restrictions on the Roosevelt Island Bridge in his most recent RIOC President's Report: Tram (Item 2):

At this writing, twelve weeks after shutdown, POMA advises that construction is still on schedule for reopening by September 1, although the City’s stricter enforcement of weight restrictions on bridges as applied to crane mobilization has resulted in some delay. The Contractor is working on alternatives. Station work proceeds apace at both ends. RIOC has engaged BL Companies to do some preliminary architectural design for work on the two stations after the system is back in operation. There will be a community presentation for reaction and comment as we go forward.

Let's hope and do all we can that these invisible ghost spirit people are not the only Roosevelt Island residents using the Tram come this September.

Design Image of RI Tram Station From RIOC and BL Companies

More on Roosevelt Island Tram Modernization Program from RIOC.