Residents Demand Roosevelt Island Tram Priority Boarding Access To Alleviate Overcrowding From Sightseeing Tourists At Last Night's RIOC Board Meeting Public Session - "Time For RIOC To Step Up And Present Action Plan" Says Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright

PIX 11 News reported yesterday:

Roosevelt Island residents and workers want to have a priority line for the tram due to the busy crowds of tourists. https://t.co/V5uN4iFGjO

— PIX11 News (@PIX11News) December 20, 2024

Good morning @Rebecca76AD @LizKrueger @JulieMenin @RIOCny @Rooseveltisland

Last night, 20 residents came and spoke with passion and clarity about why we need priority boarding of the tram.

We even gave candy to tourists, who did not mind waiting. https://t.co/H3IOzfHlUf pic.twitter.com/jGPojhlasZ

— @paulkrikler 🚲🛴🦽🚠🚂 (@PaulKrikler) December 20, 2024

A group supporting priority Roosevelt Island Tram boarding for residents and workers gathered in the cold last night at Good Shepherd Plaza prior to the December 19 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors Meeting being held inside the much warmer Good Shepherd Church. The Group chanted:

What Do We Want, Priority Boarding, When Do We Want It, Now

and prepared to give their reasons to the RIOC Board Members during the Public Session held prior to the start of the Directors Meeting.

Will have full video of the RIOC Board Public Session testimonies supporting Roosevelt Island Tram boarding preference for residents/workers as well as reaction from RIOC Board members in a few days. 

Today, Roosevelt Island's NY State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright issued a statement addressed to Paul Krikler, one of the Tram Boarding Preference organizers, supporting the efforts of the group. 

According to Ms Seawright:

Dear Mr. Krikler

Thank you for contacting my office regarding overcrowding on the Roosevelt Island Tram. I strongly favor RIOC adopting an action plan that prioritizes access to residents of Roosevelt Island.

The Tram is essential to the transportation of needs of the community. There are numerous categories of people who rely on the Tram, including those with disabilities, senior citizens, workers in all fields, parents and school-age children. Whether it is used for transportation to a medical appointment or a place of business, the Tram is a vital mode of transportation.

While we welcome visitors to enjoy the vibrant life and attractions of Roosevelt Island, a plan is needed that will result in a reduction of wait time and an improved schedule that recognizes resident's usage. In the past, we have successfully advocated for ways to address transportation issues, including the expansion of RIOC's Red Bus service to ameliorate sharp service reductions. Similarly, we fought hard to ensure an F train shuttle during the Direct Track Fixation repairs last year.

Now is the time for RIOC to step up and present an action plan that fully prioritizes resident use of the Tram.

I have sent a copy of my comments to the RIOC leadership as well.

Thank you for contacting me on this important matter.

In response to my request for comment on the issue, Roosevelt Island NYC Council Member Julie Menin replied:

As a supporter of Roosevelt Island residents and commuters, I value the importance of ensuring their needs are considered regarding tramway access. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation should ask for further clarification of existing New York State Transportation laws to determine the feasibility of prioritizing access to existing public transit.

Here's more background on the issue. 

Stay tuned.

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Person Struck By F Train At Roosevelt Island Subway Station This Afternoon - FDNY Chief Says Train Rolled Over Person By 2 Cars, Injuries Are Serious, Transported To Hospital

Roosevelt Island Tipsters reported late this afternoon:

Something big happening at the F Train. More emergency vehicles than  can count.

and:

What's happening at the Subway?

According to the MTA: 

Northbound F trains are delayed while emergency teams respond to someone who was struck by a train at Roosevelt Island.

— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) December 18, 2024

I spoke with the FDNY Chief at the scene of the Roosevelt Island subway station incident. According to the Chief:

... approximately 15:53 hours today, we had a person struck by a Queens bound train heading towards Queens Plaza. 

The train rolled over the patient by about two cars. Patient was quickly removed by FD units to waiting EMS bus and is now being transported to a local hospital in Manhattan. 

PD is investigating the circumstances as to what happened.... injuries are serious at this moment... 

The Chief added that the FDNY responded in it normal response time:

Being Roosevelt Island it's a little bit longer because of the greater distance from Queens.

According to a NYPD spokesperson:

A male in his 50's was struck by a Queens bound train and taken to hospital in stable condition. At this time, no criminality is suspected. The incident is still being investigated.

Subway service was disrupted and riders had to use the Q102 bus 

and Tram

Photo Credit Alexandre Tolipan

to leave Roosevelt Island. 

Good evening. There are still delays/longer waits for F trains after someone was struck by a train at Roosevelt Island, F trains were rerouted in both directions. We do apologize for a long wait. ^JP

— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) December 18, 2024

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Roger Clark (@rogerclark41)

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It's A Problem For Many, Many Years, When You Gotta Go To A Public Bathroom Where Do You Go On Roosevelt Island?

The lack of public bathrooms on Roosevelt Island has been a problem for many years. As reported in 2007:

... Good Day: I was visiting Roosevelt Island yesterday. I basically had a nice time, residents were very friendly, but I was unable to find any public restrooms....

Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) President Judy Berdy is concerned about the lack of public bathrooms on Roosevelt Island. Ms Berdy shares this message she sent last Saturday to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) leadership team of Chief Financial Officer Dhru Amin and Acting Chief Operating Officer Mary Cunneen upon learning that the Cornell Tech Cafe is closing during the upcoming holidays from December 21 to January 5 making its public bathroom unavailable. According to Ms Berdy.

Every day dozens of visitors and residents arrive at the kiosk in need of bathroom facilities.

As you can see from the message below there will be an urgent bathroom shortage starting next week.

In the past Cornell Tech has accommodated visitors in the bathrooms at Bloomberg Cafe.

We have referred people to Southpoint Park which is really difficult if they are not on their way to Southpoint Park.

We know that the sewer work has been done and assume that the two bathrooms in the station should be in operation.

We Know it is a challenge to have visitors use the station bathroom., but the only other solution is opening the two bathrooms in Sportspark for visitors. Use of these bathrooms will not interupt the function of Sportspark, a RIOC facility, not a private club.

RIOC has never been good at accommodating the toilet needs of visitors or residents.

The use of portable facilities in mid-winter is unreasonable and unsafe.

Please send us your solution Monday or Tuesday since Cornell Cafe will be closed starting Wednesday.

The Roosevelt Island Tram bathrooms were closed today.

The Southpoint Park bathrooms were open and in use today, 

a short 5-10 minute walk from the Tram.

RIOC Communications Director Bryant Daniels replied to Ms Berdy that bathrooms in the Sportspark will be available to the public. 

According to Mr Bryant:

The westside Sportspark bathrooms near the main entrance are open for the general public to use while the Tram station bathrooms are offline. Judy you and your team can let folks know as needed, there is now no sign on the door about no public bathrooms.

Signage will be necessary to make sure that people know the Sportspark bathrooms are available for the public to use.