F Train Subway Delays This Morning At Roosevelt Island Subway Station

Twitpic Image of Roosevelt Island Subway Commuters From Robstaro

There were problems with this morning's Roosevelt Island F Train subway commute to Manhattan. Robstaro tweeted:

Thirty minute delays on Manhattan bound Roosevelt island F stop earlier today

With the Roosevelt Island Tram being out of service until (hopefully) late August/early September there are very few options for Roosevelt Island residents to be able to make it to work, school or just get off of Roosevelt Island when problems on the subway occur. When such problems do happen, RIOC has reported that additional Red Bus Shuttle service would be provided to assist in getting to Manhattan or the Queens subway stations. I asked RIOC President Steve Shane:

I understand that there were some longer than usual delays during this morning's F Train subway commute.

Was RIOC contacted about these delays by the MTA?

Also, you have previously indicated that if there were significant delays or problems on the F Train, RIOC would provide Red Bus shuttle service as an alternative. Can you advise under what conditions RIOC would provide the alternative Red Bus Service? 30 Minute delays, 60 minute delays etc.

Mr. Shane replied:

Yes, we got an advisory. Yes, we immediately were prepared to offer additional bus service. Because of the time when it happened, during the tail end of rush hour, we made the decision to be prepared to bus people to Queens, since getting over the bridge to Manhattan was not going to be attractive. The 10 AM bus into Manhattan left on schedule without any overcrowding.

Alternative bus service is always a judgment call based on the severity of the condition causing the F Train delay. Flooding, mechanical failure, sick passenger, etc., etc., all are delay causes which have different expectations. No hard and fast rules. We do the best we can.