RIOC Board Says No To Temporary Roosevelt Island Morning Rush Hour Ferry Service During Tram Outage - Just Too Expensive
RIOC Officials Waving Goodbye To Roosevelt Island Temporary Ferry ServiceThe Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) Board of Directors voted yesterday not to go forward on temporary ferry service for Roosevelt Island morning rush hours during the planned March - September Tram outage. The cost of approximately $1 million, which includes operating subsidies and temporary dock construction, was just too much for Directors to approve the temporary ferry despite all wishing for a permanent service.
During the Board meeting RIOC President Steve Shane reported that 800 of the 11-1200 regular users of the morning rush hour tram responded to the Temporary Ferry Service Survey. 400 of those 800 said they would use the temporary ferry to 35th Street and of those 400, 300 said they would pay the $3 fee. The fee would be in addition to any subway or bus fee because the MTA refused to allow the Metro Card to be used for the Ferry.
Since the NY Water Taxi Ferry operators would charge RIOC $4000 per day for operating the temporary ferry service during morning rush hours, a subsidy of $3100 a day would be required from RIOC in order to provide the service ($4,000 - 300 riders X $3 =$3100). All of the RIOC Directors, except for Jonathan Kalkin, decided that was just too expensive. Mr. Kalkin was the only RIOC Director to vote to approve the temporary ferry service.
So it looks like Roosevelt Island transportation options during the tram outage are the F Train, Red Bus, Q102 Bus, Memorial Sloan Kettering Bus Shuttle, automobile and feet.
Here is the February Board of Directors meeting webcast.
8 comments :
and bicycles!
I can't wait to see all the complaints that come in once the tram closes. I think we all know the subway can't always be trusted.
THIS IS AN ISLAND
I hope that the Management of Roosevelt Island will be more pro-active in future and thank Jonathan Kalkin for his efforts
to look beyond the next corner.
Think of the way millions of dollars have been spent on the Octagon Dock and the "renovated" PDS offices while steps to provide an add'l school,increased indoor parking and emergency evacuation of the elderly and sick are postponed.
THE TRAM WAS BUILD AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE. NOW WE THINK OF A WATER TRANSPORT FACILITY AS TEMPORARY.
Will ordinary residents can use the Hospital Bus?
I am pessimistic about taking the Red Bus in the morning if it goes to F train stop at Queensboro Plaza. Sounds like a hassle - spend 20 minutes to go by bus from RI to the F subway stop in Queens which is only one stop before our stop. The trains there will be as crowded as when they come to our stop.
Feet and bysycles can work only if you work somewhere in Queens close to RI. If you work in midtown or upper Easr Side, it is again a hassle, because you have to go Queens and then to Queensboro and then cross the bridge... I'd say that taking the bycycle will take at least 1.5 hours to my commute. Walk will take like 3 hours and I will be completely exhaused when I arrive. I wish we'd have access to Queensboro from our island...
There is no smooth solution to the problem because the people in charge do not live on the island and park their cars on Main Street as they have always done.
The simplest but time consuming solution for the elderly seems to be to take the F train to 74th St and hope to get a seat back to Manhattan from there.
The Red Bus will be as sporadic as ever having to fit in the trips both off-island and within the island.
If we have to take the F to 74 St maybe transferring to the 7 will be less crowded than trying to get on the F. Also how about running the red bus to Queensboro Plaza to take the N or W or7.
"how about running the red bus to Queensboro Plaza to take the N or W or 7"
Yes, this will be better!
Or how about running the red bus to the 36th Avenue stop of N & W?
I think that this may work better than going to F stop at 21 street. The trip by bus to 36th Avenue station will be fast and more options for trains.
To 3:11 PM - According to RIOC, the Red Bus will drop off riders at Queens Plaza and Queensboro Plaza subway station with access to E, G, R, V, 7, W, or N subway lines.
Click on Right Sidebar RIOC Red Bus Schedule below Calendar of events for more info.
The Red Bus is not going to 21st street F Train stop in Queens.
To 7:12 PM - My understanding is that the Hospital Bus is only for their personnel.
Post a Comment