Friday, August 21, 2020

RIOC Responds To Complaints Of Long Line And Waiting Time For Roosevelt Island Tram - Increases Social Distancing Cabin Capacity From 13 To 20 And Will Add Red Bus Service To And From Manhattan When Only 1 Cabin In Service From 10 AM to 3 PM Weekdays

As reported earlier this week:

Following last weekend's report of overcrowding and lack of Social Distancing on the Roosevelt Island Tram, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Acting President Shelton Haynes announced that Public Safety Officers would monitor and enforce 13 passenger limits on the Tram....

There was a long line and at least half hour waiting time this afternoon at both the Manhattan


and Roosevelt Island


Tram Stations with only 1 Cabin in service.

But an hour later, with both cabins in service, no line at all.

I asked RIOC Acting President Shelton Haynes today:
Any update on Tram social distancing capacity limits policy.

Will capacity be increased.

Will both cabins operate?

Since there is a PSD Officer at both stations, is there any way to give Roosevelt Island
residents and workers priority boarding?
This evening, RIOC issued the following Tram Operations update:
While we continue to follow social distancing and align our operations with New York Forward guidance, we have begun, and will continue to, incrementally increase the number of passengers permitted on the Tram. We are now increasing capacity from 13 to 20 per cabin and will continue to assess and gradually increase in phases. We understand the need for this mode of transportation, however, the health and safety of our riders and operators are our priority.

Regular operation of the Tram requires daily routine maintenance of towers, ropes, and an overall assessment of the Tram cabins, which necessitates one cabin to go offline from 10 AM - 3 PM. With limitations on Tram capacity, we will provide a Red Bus shuttle option for travel to and from the Manhattan Tram Station, from 10 AM to 2 PM, Monday - Friday.

We encourage riders to plan accordingly and anticipate increased wait times for both the Tram and Red Bus shuttle. Please also consider alternate transportation options such as the F-train subway, ferry, Q102 bus or car.

We appreciate your cooperation during this difficult time.
A Tram Tipster tells me:
The Tram is able to run alot more often than it does. RIOC is not willing to pay the increased costs to run more often between maintenance and staffing. Plus, it would require union workers to postpone maintenance until the tram is down which would be during the night/very early morning.
Let's see what happens this weekend with Tram crowding.

UPDATE 8/23 - RIOC reports this evening:
While we continue to follow social distancing and align our operations with New York Forward guidance, we have begun, and will continue to, incrementally increase the number of passengers permitted on the Tram. We are now increasing capacity from 13 to 20 per cabin and will continue to assess and gradually increase in phases. We understand the need for this mode of transportation, however, the health and safety of our riders and operators are our priority.

Regular operation of the Tram requires daily routine maintenance of towers, ropes, and an overall assessment of the Tram cabins, which necessitates one cabin to go offline from 10 AM - 3 PM. With limitations on Tram capacity, beginning Monday, August 24th, we will provide a Red Bus shuttle option for travel to and from the Manhattan Tram Station.

Red Bus Shuttle Service Info:

Available: Monday - Friday

Boarding Locations/Routes:

Roosevelt Island to Manhattan: board at the R.I. Tram Station. Shuttle will make all northbound local stops to Capobianco Field (Opposite PS/IS 217)

Manhattan to R.I.: board at the southwest side of 2nd Avenue, between 58th & 59th Street. Shuttle will make all southbound local stops (beginning at 591 Main Street) to the Tram station.

Frequency: departing on the half hour, from 10 AM to 2 PM

Last Trip- Manhattan to R.I.: 1:30 PM Roosevelt Island to Manhattan: 1:00 PM

We encourage riders to plan accordingly and anticipate increased wait times for both the Tram and Red Bus shuttle. Please also consider alternate transportation options such as the F-train subway, ferry, Q102 bus or car.

We appreciate your cooperation during this difficult time.

New Outdoor Seating For Roosevelt Island Take Out Food Says RIOC, 6 Picnic Benches Placed At West Side Of Good Shepherd Plaza Yesterday - But They're Gone Today

A reader asked yesterday about picnic benches


spotted behind the Chapel in Good Shepherd Plaza:

Roosevelt Island Residents Join In Nationwide Save Our Post Office, Save Our Democracy Rallies Saturday August 22 At RI Post Office Branch - You're Invited To Participate, Wear Mask And Bring Signs


Roosevelt Island resident Matt Katz reports:
Hello Friends. As I'm sure you're aware, MoveOn is organizing rallies across the country to express people's outrage at the attempts to sabotage our postal service. Roosevelt Islanders are no exception and we will convene in front of our branch post office on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Be sure to wear your masks and bring your signs.
According to the Roosevelt Island Save Our Post Office, Save Our Democracy Rally host:

12 years ago Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and 3,000 Roosevelt Islanders fought to keep our Local Post office open. This time we will fight to save all our post offices AND our Democracy. We will be meeting outside our Post Office at 11. Also petition signing starting at 8am outside the farmers market.


The Washington Post has more on recent mail delivery delays.

Sponsored Post - Check Out Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket August 21 - August 27 Product Offerings, Specials & Sales Items - Online Shopping, Delivery Options, Digital Coupons & Social Media Facebook And Instagram Too



The Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket


invites you to check out their August 21 - August 27 Weekly Flyer for Product Offerings, Specials & Sales items 



Click here to visit the Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket web site for online shopping, delivery options, digital coupons, weekly flyer and more.


Follow Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket on Facebook






Roosevelt Island Transportation This Weekend - F Train Service To And From Manhattan, 13 Tram Passenger Social Distancing Limit Enforced, Ferry Route Extended To UES And Citibike Too - Wear Your Masks To Travel Safely For You And Others

According to the MTA, there is Roosevelt Island F Train Service to and from Manhattan this weekend.


There is a Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin 13 passenger Covid-19 Social Distancing limit. According to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Acting President Shelton Haynes:
... RIOC PSD will be present at both Tram stations in order to facilitate adherence to all safety guidelines. An officer will be posted at each station queuing travelers, ensuring that all passengers follow the Tram cabin limit, and that masks are being worn. We are scheduled to meet with Leitner-POMA, operators of the Tram, to discuss the matter further. RIOC will communicate any additional changes that may come from the meeting.... 

Here's the NYC Ferry Roosevelt Island Astoria Route Schedule which starting Saturday August 22 extends to East 90th street on the Upper East Side.


Roosevelt Island has a new transportation option with the recent addition of Citbike docking stations.

UPDATE 8:20 PM - According to RIOC:
Tram Operations Update

While we continue to follow social distancing and align our operations with New York Forward guidance, we have begun, and will continue to, incrementally increase the number of passengers permitted on the Tram. We are now increasing capacity from 13 to 20 per cabin and will continue to assess and gradually increase in phases. We understand the need for this mode of transportation, however, the health and safety of our riders and operators are our priority.

Regular operation of the Tram requires daily routine maintenance of towers, ropes, and an overall assessment of the Tram cabins, which necessitates one cabin to go offline from 10 AM - 3 PM. With limitations on Tram capacity, we will provide a Red Bus shuttle option for travel to and from the Manhattan Tram Station, from 10 AM to 2 PM, Monday - Friday.

We encourage riders to plan accordingly and anticipate increased wait times for both the Tram and Red Bus shuttle. Please also consider alternate transportation options such as the F-train subway, ferry, Q102 bus or car.

We appreciate your cooperation during this difficult time.

Thursday, August 20, 2020

NYC Ferry Astoria Route Service Expands To Upper East Side 90th Street Dock Starting Saturday August 22 - 12 Minute Direct Route Roosevelt Island To Upper East Side

As reported May 2019:

Roosevelt Island may get ferry service to the Upper East Side under a proposed expanded NYC Ferry Astoria Route by Hallets Point real estate developer Durst Organization....
Yesterday,  the NYC Economic Development Corp (EDC) announced that the NYC Ferry Astoria Route will be extended to East 90th street


starting this Saturday, August 22.


Take this virtual Roosevelt Island to Astoria ferry trip



and in another 4 minutes you'll be on the Upper East Side.

This will probably mean more Upper East Side crowds on the Ferry coming to and from Roosevelt Island as well as more visitors to Roosevelt Island.

NYC Health Department Releases More Covid-19 Statistics By Zip Code - How Many Roosevelt Island 10044 Zip Code Residents Tested Positive For Coronavirus, Have Antibodies Or Died

The NYC Health Department released Covid 19 Antibody Testing statistics by Zip Code. According to the charts below, 2299 Roosevelt Island 10044 Zip Code residents took the Covid -19 antibody test


with 17.4 % testing positive

for a total of 400 residents.

Also, the NYC Health Department reports that over the last 4 weeks, 7 Roosevelt Island Zip Code 10044 residents tested positive for the Covid-19 virus



with no deaths reported.


According to NYC Health Department statistics, the total number of Roosevelt Island Zip Code 10044 Covid-19

Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Principal Beckman Among NYC DOE District 2 Principals Calling For In Person Schooling Delay From Scheduled September 10 Start

Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217


Principal Mandana Beckman was among a group of District 2 NYC Department Of Education Principals who signed letter calling on Mayor Bill de Blasio's to delay in person school learning scheduled to begin September 10.

According to the Twitter account of NY Times Education reporter:




Chalkbeat NY has more on calls by Principals to delay NYC in person schooling. Also here's press release from the Mayor's office earlier today:
Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza today announced the City’s Back to School Pledge. The pledge, available here, outlines the City’s safety and health commitments to students, parents, and the school community prior to the start of the school year.

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Complaints Of Long Line And Waiting Time For Roosevelt Island Tram After RIOC Starts Enforcing Coronavirus Pandemic Social Distancing 13 Passenger Limit - It's Worse Says A Resident, Instead Of 5 Minute Ride, Now Standing In Close Contact For 20 Minutes

Following last weekend's report of overcrowding and lack of Social Distancing on the Roosevelt Island Tram, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Acting President Shelton Haynes announced that Public Safety Officers would monitor and enforce 13 passenger limits on the Tram.


Previously, the Coronavirus Pandemic Tram Social Distancing rules


gave the Tram Operator discretion to allow more than 13 riders in the cabin. The Tram had a ridership capacity of 110 per cabin before the Coronavirus Pandemic.

But some Tram riders complained yesterday and today about long lines and waiting times


because RIOC is currently enforcing the Tram 13 passenger social distancing limit.

According to the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse:


Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Roosevelt Island Blackwell Park Water Hydrant Sprinkler Cap Installed Yesterday, Cool Refreshment On Hot Summer Day - NYCEM CERT Volunteers Team Up With RIOC PSD, FDNY And NYC DEP To Make It Happen

Cooling off on a hot summer day got a bit better on Roosevelt Island yesterday after a water sprinkler cap was installed on a Blackwell Park FDNY hydrant.


Roosevelt Island community activist and NYC Department Of Emergency Management (NYCEM) Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer  Frank Farance, whose suggestion initiated the hydrant water sprinkler cap installation, reports. According to Mr Farance:
Yesterday, local and neighboring CERTs collaborated with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department (PSD), NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and NYC Fire Department (FDNY) to open the hydrants and add sprinkler caps to provide cooling refreshment for the residents. We tried one hydrant at Blackwell Park
 

 and we'll open a second hydrant at the back of 30 River Road.

CERTs' raison d'etre is to allow the replacement of a police officer, firefighter, or EMT to go do more important things. As FDNY said: "We'd have to come out here daily to turn these hydrants on and off and we're not always available". Now CERTs can perform that role for hydrant sprinklers and let firefighters spend time on more important tasks.

While many people might be excited for the sprinklers, as I've emphasized: there are a variety of safety protocols that need to be in place before making the sprinkler available to the public.

For the CERTs, we were fortunate enough to have our NYC DEP Instructor Nevin Pahlad on site to review our operation, including the hands on portion of actually turning the hydrants on. Mr. Pahlad has provided numerous DEP trainings to the CERT program, including clearing storm drains (important in all four seasons) and spotting local flooding in our communities. Also, FDNY was on hand and they showed us important tips on operating the hydrant, checking for drainage within the hydrant (which becomes icing problems in winter), when to report problems to DEP, checking for debris inside, and handy tips putting on covers and sprinkler caps.


For the operation the rest of this summer season, CERTs will collaborate with RIOC and PSD on turning on and off the sprinkler caps - the present schedule is 11 AM to 5 PM on weekdays.

In summary, this was an important collaboration in that all parties - CERTs, NYC DEP, FDNY, RIOC PSD - shared knowledge and gained a common operating picture. I appreciate NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM) helping coordinate the trainings and the operational efforts.
Watch how the new Roosevelt Island Water Hydrant Sprinkler Cap is installed.

Monday, August 17, 2020

RIOC Responds To Overcrowding And Lack Of Social Distancing On Roosevelt Island Tram This Past Weekend - RIOC Acting President Shelton Haynes Apologizes Today And Says PSD Officers Will Be At Each Station Queuing Riders And Ensuring Safety Measures

Reported last Saturday on very crowded Roosevelt Island Tram cabins:

Tram operator has discretion to allow more than 13 passenger social distance capacity limit but this seems too many people. Mostly visitors.


Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Acting President Shelton Haynes agrees that the overcrowding and lack of social distancing on Tram is not acceptable. Today, Mr Haynes reports:
I was very disappointed when I viewed the video of the crowded Tram cabin yesterday. RIOC has taken extreme measures throughout the course of the pandemic to ensure the general public and our employees are informed with digital and physical signage of safety protocols. We placed emphasis on wearing masks, using floor decals, and placing a limit on the number of passengers who board the Tram. We have also had success implementing social distancing protocols at the Tennis courts, Sportspark Pool, Youth Center, Farmers Market, and other RIOC operated spaces.

We apologize for any breakdown of these safety protocols at the Tram. After this was brought to our attention over the weekend, I asked our AVP of Operations, Altheria Jackson, and Public Safety Chief, Kevin Brown to review all Tram safety operations. They toured the Tram stations early Sunday morning to address this critical matter.

Going forward, RIOC PSD will be present at both Tram stations in order to facilitate adherence to all safety guidelines. An officer will be posted at each station


queuing travelers,


ensuring that all passengers follow the Tram cabin limit,


and that masks are being worn. We are scheduled to meet with Leitner-POMA, operators of the Tram, to discuss the matter further. RIOC will communicate any additional changes that may come from the meeting.

Roosevelt Island Virtual Zoom Health & Wellness Seminar Tuesday August 18, Stress & Everyday Life Presented By Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell Tech & RISA

Roosevelt Island Seniors Association President Barbara Parker invites everyone to August 18 Virtual Zoom Health & Wellness Seminar on understanding Stress and Everyday Life presented by: Guy Maytal, MD

Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell Tech and the Roosevelt Island Senior Association (RISA) Present: Stress and Everyday Life

Join us for a seminar to better understand stress and its impacts including how it affects you and your family, how your lifestyle affects stress, and signs of stress. This seminar will seek to explore things individuals can do to reduce stress in their lives.

We hope you will join us virtually!

Presented by: Guy Maytal, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine

This event is FREE and open to the public

Tuesday, August 18 || 6:30-7:30 p.m. Register at bit.ly/3a367gB

Zoom link to be provided upon registration.

You may also email Jane.Swanson@cornell.edu or call Barbara Parker at 917-951-4137.
Remember to register here for the seminar.

Sunday, August 16, 2020

Canadian Geese Exploring More Of Roosevelt Island This Weekend - Chowing Down For Grass Lunch On Riverwalk Commons, On Way To Subway And Leave Droppings All Over Sidewalks

Canadian Geese exploring more of Roosevelt Island yesterday. One on way to subway. Geese droppings all over sidewalk


Today, Canadian Geese exploring more of Roosevelt Island. Chowing down for lunch on the Riverwalk Commons grass.

Readers comments:
  • Think of this for a minute, wildlife lived on RI way before humans ever did so I wonder if the wildlife has hate for humans for destroying their nesting grounds and homes or finds humans and their condos in the way? I bet wildlife may not be a fan of us. Btw I have seen worse things on the sidewalk.
  • When it’s wet and people are inside hiding these guys will always come out. RI needs a few pooches like the Governor’s Island Working Dogs to scare them away.
  • Don’t blame the dogs for their massive poops