Roosevelt Island F Train Service To And From Manhattan This Weekend - Only 1 Tram Cabin Operating During Cable Overhaul, Work Area Expanded To Middle Platforms, Tram Ride Free During Project Says RIOC

Good news. There is Roosevelt Island F Train subway service to and from Manhattan this weekend.

Bad news, as previously reported, due to a major Roosevelt Island Tram Overhaul project, only a single Cabin will be operating each day for at least 12 weeks starting last February 14.

Also, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) announced at yesterday's Operations Advisory Committee meeting that the Tram  Overhaul project

will need to expand the work staging area to include the Tram Station middle platforms on both the Roosevelt Island

and Manhattan sides. As a result, for safety precautions, the middle platforms on both sides will be closed.

During the current work on the North Tram cables, Tram passengers will load and unload on the South Platform.

Since the MTA Metrocard turnstlyes will not be moved, Tram passengers will ride for free while the middle platforms are out of service. RIOC estimates approximately $750 Thousand in lost Tram revenue during this period.

When work begins on the South Tram cables, there will be some days when no elevator service is available at the Manhattan Tram Station. RIOC plans on running the Red Bus Express when elevator service is out.

Will have more later on these Tram changes that are expected to begin next week, perhaps as early as Monday.

As  reported February 13:

The Roosevelt Island Tram is scheduled to undergo two major maintenance projects that will reduce operating service to one cabin only beginning on February 14th and continuing for at least 12 weeks, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) announced.

Track cable relocation, phase 1 of the work, is a safety requirement of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for aerial tramways and gondolas operating in the United States.

As per the safety regulations (ANSI B77.1), the Tram is required to relocate its track cables after a pre-determined amount of time. RIOC’s Tram contractor Leitner-Poma, who totally rebuilt the Tram’s infrastructure nine years ago, will perform the work.

The timeline is subject to change depending on weather conditions and the conditions found within the equipment during the relocation. During that time, one cabin will be taken out of service, starting with the North cabin.

“Much like a car that has recommended maintenance at pre-determined intervals, we are that point with the Roosevelt Island Tram,” said RIOC CEO and President Susan Rosenthal.

“We apologize in advance for the inconvenience this may cause. But this effort is to create the safest transportation system possible and to extend its service life into the future,” Rosenthal said of the Tram that since 2016 has transported more than 10 million commuters. “We appreciate your patience and assistance with this important maintenance project.”

Track cables are basically the “road” that the Tram cabin runs on. Each track cable does have movement with every trip of the tram to allow for expansion and contraction, but for the most part the cables are fixed in a single location on each tower. Over time, this location is subject to more wear and bending actions than the other locations, which is the reason the cable is periodically relocated.

Each track cable also contains fiber optic lines inside the core, which the Tram uses for communications and controls. This fiber optic line must be cut and re-terminated following the track relocation.

There will be periods of shutdown for both cabin systems during the actual movement of the rope, during tensioning and during the fiber optic changeover, but the plan is to conduct this work late at night and during normal overnight shutdown periods.

Leitner-Poma crews will be working seven days per week to complete the work as quickly as possible.

The second phase of work consists of four gearbox overhauls (inspecting and replacing internal parts such as the gears, bearings, seals and oil changes). This work will start as soon as Phase 1’s track cable relocation is complete. The schedule may change depending on the construction of needed parts and the impact of the federal government shutdown of the overseas import of those parts.

The duration of Phase 2 is estimated to last four to six weeks. During that repair, the Tram will be running daily on a one-cabin reduced capacity.

WHY ARE GEARBOX OVERHAULS NEEDED?

Each cabin is pulled by an assembly of two gearboxes. Due to the age of the gearboxes and following the gearbox failure on the North tram last August, Kissling AG, the original gearbox manufacturer and a leader in the industry, has recommended to proceed right away with the overhaul of all four gearboxes.

To help facilitate Island residents’ commutes during this period, RIOC will operate Red Bus shuttles between 58th-Street-and- Second-Avenue in Midtown Manhattan and the Roosevelt Island Tram Station during the weekday afternoon peak commute, 3 PM - 8:30 PM.

In discussions with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority which operates the New York City subway and bus system, RIOC officials received assurances this week that there will be no disruptions to the subway’s F Train line that services Roosevelt Island, including weekends up until April 19.

Additional service will be provided via the E Train line, weeknights March 18 – March 22 and March 25 – March 29; and all four weekends March 23 – April 25.

RIOC has also asked NYC Ferry officials to consider expanding ferry service – to and from Roosevelt Island, Queens and Manhattan - during the weekday peak periods and weekends; and is awaiting their response.

More information about this project, updated Red Bus shuttle schedules and project timelines will be posted at rioc.ny.gov. Please forward additional questions or inquiries to info@rioc.ny.gov.

Another transportation option is Roosevelt Island ferry service on the Astoria Route. Here's the Winter Schedule for Roosevelt Island ferry service.

UPDATE 6:15 PM - According to RIOC:

Leitner-POMA, operators of the Roosevelt Island Tramway and the entity responsible for scheduled maintenance work, have notified the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) that, due to safety concerns, there will be changes to the construction set-up and site-plan. While this will not extend the overall timeline for the scheduled work, it will affect accessibility to both the Manhattan and Roosevelt Island Tram platforms.

In addition, this work will necessitate four (4) separate days of a complete Tram shutdown throughout the planned 12 week project. Leitner-POMA has assured RIOC that they will provide notice at least 48 hours prior to any shutdown. Due to the changes requiring an expanded footprint to the construction site-plan for both stations, the following guidelines will be put in place to ensure safe and efficient service for all passengers while this work is being done:

• Passenger Entry and Exit Patterns at Tram Station Platforms- Signage will be placed on both platforms to direct passengers entering and exiting the Tram. Due to the limited standing room on the Manhattan Tram station platform, passengers will be queuing on street level. Leitner-POMA and Roosevelt Island Public Safety officers will help provide directions to passengers entering and exiting both stations.
• Manhattan Tram Plaza Elevators- There will be limited accessibility to these elevators during the construction period. Passengers with mobility limitations are encouraged to utilize alternate transportation options which include: F train, Ferry (Astoria Line), Q102 MTA Bus, Red Bus Shuttle, or to contact the Public Safety Department at 212-832-4545 in the case of an emergency. Transportation and information links can be found on our website at rioc.ny.gov.
• MTA Machines and Turnstiles- During a period of the project schedule, passengers will not have access to turnstiles and MetroCard machines. The purchase of Metrocards will not be available on either side during those times.
• Roosevelt Island Station Restrooms- Temporary restrooms will be available near the Roosevelt Island Tram station and will remain for the duration of the project.

“We understand that these changes will have a negative impact on daily travel plans, but our foremost concern is the safety of our riders,” said Susan Rosenthal, CEO and President of RIOC. “We will make every effort to keep a timely flow of passenger travel and implement updated procedures, when necessary throughout this project, to keep delays to a minimum.”

To receive the most timely updates on this project, we encourage residents and riders to visit rioc.ny.gov and sign-up for RIOC community advisories. You can also submit a concern or provide feedback regarding this project through the Report a Problem link on our website. For any additional inquiries, please call 212-832-4540.

Below is video of RIOC Operations Advisory Committee discussion yesterday about the Tram Overhaul project.



UPDATE 7:45 PM - RIOC sent out the following advisory at 7:09 PM tonight:

Please be advised that the Tram will be closed on Sunday, February 24th to facilitate required maintenance work. Service will resume with one cabin in operation on Monday, February 25th at 6 AM.

What are my travel alternatives?

Red Bus Shuttle service will be available to and from the Manhattan Tram Station on Sunday, February 24th from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, beginning from the R.I. Tram Station.

Red Bus Shuttle pick-up locations:
Manhattan: Southwest corner of 58th St. and 2nd Ave.
Roosevelt Island: Tram Station Plaza

MTA subway F line (mta.info) and the NYC Ferry service (ferry.nyc) are available to and from Manhattan.

Q102 MTA Bus service is also an option to connect to Midtown Manhattan-bound trains at Queensboro Plaza.

Why is this work happening?

The Roosevelt Island Tram is undergoing two major maintenance projects, consisting of rope relocations and gearbox overhauls. This required work is to ensure the safest transportation system possible and to extend its service life into the future.
How do I get updates?

To receive transportation updates, visit rioc.ny.gov and sign up for Island community advisories.

We apologize for any inconvenience.