Manhattan Roosevelt Island Tram Station Elevator Out Of Service Again Today - RI Parents' Network Coordinator Asks RIOC For A Permanent Solution To Tram Elevator Outage

The Manhattan Roosevelt Island Tram Station elevator is out of service again today.

Image of Tram Passenger Elevator and ADA Red Lift From May 29 2013

According to this 10:09 AM Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Advisory:

Please be advised that the Manhattan Tram Station elevator and wheelchair lift are currently out of service. An advisory will be sent out once they are returned to service.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

RIOC President Charlene Indelicato reported last September 27:

... A few weeks ago, we received complaints that the elevator had been out of service at the Manhattan Tram Station. We’re pleased to report that maintenance has been performed and the elevator has been up and running without an issue since then....

However, the maintenance problem with the Manhattan Tram elevator is an ongoing problem.

The Roosevelt Island Parents' Network Coordinator, Eva Bosbach, sent the following plea to RIOC Directors earlier today:

Dear RIOC Directors,

FYI. The elevators break more and more frequently, both at the same time, and with the island population changing towards more babies and families, the weather getting cold, stairs slippery, no help with gate opening in the afternoons and no heaters outside the gate on the island side, the whole Tram travel experience is becoming a nightmare for families, bikers and wheelchair-users.

If there is anything you can do to have the elevators replaced soon, we would be very very thankful.

Happy New Year,

Ms. Bosbach told me:

... a woman with a broken ankle was with us in the out of service elevator this morning and had to walk the slippery stairs down....

It's a reasonable request.

UPDATE 10 PM - According to the RIOC 2014 -15 Approved Budget (Page 5)

... An additional ADA elevator for $1,000,000 is included in FY 2015 budget for the Manhattan station...

Not known yet when work will begin on the new Tram elevator or an anticipated date of completion.

UPDATE 1/4 - RIOC sent out the following advisory at 1 AM this morning:

Please be advised that the Manhattan Tram Station elevator is in service however the wheelchair lift is currently out of service. An advisory will be sent out once the wheelchair lift is returned to service.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

UPDATE 1/4 - Received this advisory from RIOC at 4:46 PM:

Please be advised the Manhattan Tram elevator is out of service.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

Roosevelt Island resident Mark Lyon has a suggestion:

... it might be worthwhile to investigate the possibility of replacing the exterior stairs next to the elevator with some type of winding ramp, if a small additional amount of real estate could be utilized in the park (either around the elevator shaft or toward the rear of the station, where the generator/dirt patch is currently located). While having a working elevator is still important, a permanent, non-mechanical way of easing access might be attractive to all (particularly those with strollers and carts) and would provide an alternative if the elevator is out of service for some reason.

There appears to be some sort of humidity issue with the current elevator shaft. I'm uncertain if that's the complete cause of the problems, but I've boarded it on numerous occasions after a strong temperature shift outside and noticed that water condenses on the walls.

UPDATE 8:10 PM - At 8:08 RIOC advised:

Please be advised that the Manhattan Tram Station elevator is in service however the wheelchair lift is currently out of service. An advisory will be sent out once the wheelchair lift is returned to service.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group