Report From RIOC's President - June Board Meeting, Weight Problems For New Tram Crane, Fall Park Path Opening & More Roosevelt Island Issues

Rendering of New Manhattan Tram Station Design From RIOC

RIOC President Steve Shane sends the following report to Roosevelt Island residents. Mr. Shane updates us on:

• Residents Address RIOC Directors Prior To Board Meeting with advanced sign-up
• Tram On Schedule but weight restriction problems on RI Bridge For Crane and Tram Station Design process begins
• Q102 and Red Bus Service
• Southpoint Park Closed For FDR Memorial and Wild Gardens/Green Rooms Construction, Park Path Opening In Fall
  
• Octagon Field Resurfacing and Other Construction Projects
• New AVAC Compactors Arrive and Fast Trash Exhibit Closes This Weekend
  
• Kudos For Roosevelt Island Health & Fitness Day
• Environmentally Sustainable Project Study By Cradle To Cradle Island Projects and
  
• Benefit of RIOC Being Independant Of State Budget Problems
  

May 10, 2010

1. Board of Directors: Next meeting June 24 at 5:30 p.m. with a brief public-comment period before the official start of the meeting. Anyone wishing to speak should sign up in advance at either the RIOC office or on the RIOC website at RIOC.com. The Agenda is published on the RIOC website.

2. Tram: At this writing, twelve weeks after shutdown, POMA advises that construction is still on schedule for reopening by September 1, although the City’s stricter enforcement of weight restrictions on bridges as applied to crane mobilization has resulted in some delay. The Contractor is working on alternatives. Station work proceeds apace at both ends. RIOC has engaged BL Companies to do some preliminary architectural design for work on the two stations after the system is back in operation. There will be a community presentation for reaction and comment as we go forward.

3. Bus service:
A. Red Bus Shuttle to Manhattan: Weekdays and Weekends, Same stops and service into and returning from Manhattan -See the schedules posted on RIOC s web site and on the posters throughout the Island. If the F train is not in service, the frequency into and out of Manhattan will be increased to every half-hour weekdays, and, on weekends, hourly on the hour from the Island starting at midnight until 10:00 a.m. and every half-hour thereafter, returning from Manhattan 30 minutes after departure. Fares are $1.00, with seniors, disabled and children (5-16) at 50 cents.
B. Q102: The MTA continues to operate the Q102 bus on the Island on its published schedule, with a route change to eliminate the alternating loops to Coler and Goldwater.
C. Red Bus: Service continues on the Island as previously.

4. Southpoint: The Southpoint area remains closed while active construction is under way on both the FDR Memorial and Green Rooms/Wild Gardens projects. We expect to reopen the paths as far south as the Renwick Ruin by the fall, although planting in the will require restrictions until the growth takes hold.

5. Projects:
A. Octagon Soccer Field resurfacing: Work is ongoing and when complete, new specimen trees will be planted at designated locations. The schedule indicates completion around the end of July.
B. Other: Sportspark, Motorgate joint repair, fiber-optic cabling, Good Shepherd plaza and HVAC, street lighting, etc., all keep Engineering very busy. The pilot test of LED lighting at Motorgate is in design and may be considered for street lights.
C. AVAC: New compactor chambers have arrived and are being installed. New paneling is nearing completion. Go to RIVAA gallery before May 23 to see the great exhibition “Fast Trash”, about AVAC and pneumatic collection systems. !!

6. Health & Fitness Day: Glorious weather, terrific participation and a good time had by all. Kudos to all the community volunteers, contributors and RIOC staff who make this day special. Special note of the annual commendation ceremony for the members of Public Safety, recognized for their efforts during the prior year. Officers respond to calls, never knowing what they are going to face. All Island residents owe PSD a special thank you for helping Roosevelt Island to be the unique haven that it is.

7. Environment: Led by Rosina Abramson,VP for Planning, RIOC is participating in a feasibility study, funded by the EU and Cradle to Cradle Island Projects (C2CI) - to analyze ongoing environmentally sustainable projects and recommend additional projects to make RI more self sufficient from an energy point of view. RI, as a residential Island community "lab", the first U.S. member of a 22 trans-national Island network, will contribute to the experience, knowledge and progress of how Islands capture their natural resources and waste materials and turn them into energy and other productive uses.

Finally, as one follows the follies in Albany, I think all Island residents should think about how fortunate RIOC is to have an operating budget essentially independent of those issues. The ongoing success of the completed developments and future prospects will hopefully allow the level of services to be maintained.

This message also published as the RIOC column in the 5/22/10 Main Street WIRE.