Nice New Roosevelt Island Tram But Some Residents Unhappy Due To Lack Of Coordination With Red Bus, Exposure To Winter Without Protection & Other Shortcomings - The Tram's Not Just A Tourist Ride

Image of Roosevelt Island Tram Station From John Skelson

Today it's a bit warmer but over the last few days it's been pretty cold waiting at both Stations for the Roosevelt Island Tram. There is the tent at the Roosevelt Island Station - has anyone used this thing -

but nothing on the Manhattan side to provide protection from the elements except a small cage with a heater for one of the Tram Workers.

Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) President Judy Berdy has had enough with these as well as other Roosevelt Island Tram problems and let loose at the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) December Board of Directors Meeting during it's Public Speaking session last Wednesday. She was Pissed Off!

RIHS President Judy Berdy Speaking At December RIOC Board Meeting Public Session

Below are her written remarks:

The tram opened on November 30th to great fanfare.

Unfortunately, there was little planning for service coordination after that date.

Here are the shortcomings that are unacceptable:

The total state of confusion between tram and bus schedules

• For 34 years the bus met every tram 
• The tram ran on the 15 minutes non rush hour and 7 minutes rush hour 
• Two trams ran back and forth The bus met every tram

In this freezing weather, which RIOC should have know happens every December, There are no shelters in Manhattan or on the island. The Manhattan station has no shelter, just a guard booth that is on the wrong side of the turnstile.

The Manhattan Metrocard machines break down and there is no resolution since RIOC refuses to let POMA sell Metrocards from the booth.

The tram doors do not open halfway so any heat in the cabin instantly dissipates when the doors are left open 6 feet to admit passengers.

The island station is a further disaster with no shelter.

People run across the street to catch the tram or run back to get the bus since there is no coordination of schedules. We are counting the days to:

• a person injured falling to run and tripping 
• a baby carriage being hit by a car
• an elderly/disabled person injured

 Tram Riders Running For Red Bus On South Side Of Street

Where is a PSD officer to guide pedestrians? This would be a worthwhile use of their time instead of patrolling the island in their warm vehicles. I am sure we can spare one officer during tram operating hours for traffic duty.

Waiting for spring is not an acceptable answer.

I have heard from all my neighbors about the mess at the tram and bus.

You are not saving any money running only one cabin,. That is a PR fiction to make us look green. It makes me see RED. Just run the two cabins as before and at least that will mean we have a quarter hour schedule again.

You are alienating your ridership. Just watching from the kiosk, the non rush-hour ridership is down, way down. Residents do not want to be abused and made to wait unacceptable lengths of time in the cold just to ride the tram. They will stay with the F train. At least there is shelter from the cold.

This is UNACCEPTABLE

Here's the tourist view of how the Roosevelt Island Tram works.

You Tube Video From Gondola Project

To be fair to the Directors and Staff at RIOC, they are aware of these problems and  are trying to find solutions as reported in this earlier post regarding the bus route. It's is just very frustrating for those using the Tram and Red Bus on a daily basis.