Roosevelt Island Tram Station Design Improvements Subject Of July 26 Operations Committee Meeting - Community Presentation On August 2

Image of Roosevelt Island Tram Manhattan Station Conceptual Design From BL Companies

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors Operations Committee will be meeting on July 26 to discuss the Roosevelt Island Tram Station Design improvements.

Image of former Roosevelt Island Tram Manhattan Station From BL Companies

According to RIOC:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Operations Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Monday, July 26, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. at the RIOC administrative office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

The agenda for the meeting will be:

1. Presentation on the Tram Station Design Improvements.

During the May RIOC Board of Directors Meeting, a discussion was held regarding Tram Station improvements. According to the minutes (Page 5) of the May RIOC Board Meeting:

... Mr. Shane provided a brief background of the Aerial Tramway Modernization Project. He reminded the Board that this project, with an overall cost of $25 million, is being funded with $10 million from RIOC and $15 million from New York State. Mr. Shane noted that the overall project is running on schedule and that the current budget balance for station improvements is approximately $3,470,000. He further noted that RIOC proposes to hire BL Companies, originally retained as a subcontractor by POMA, to perform the station design work on a sole source basis because of their previous involvement in the Project. Mr. Shane then invited Ms. Wilpon of BL Companies to present her firm’s design concepts.

Ms. Wilpon discussed the scope of work, explained the designs and provided a description of the materials to be used for station improvements. She further discussed the issues of station lighting and passenger protection from the weather elements. In response to Ms. Christian’s question, Ms. Wilpon noted that accessibility of the stations would remain the same, though some repairs would be made to the elevators. She explained that the current budget does not allow for the installation of new elevators. Mr. Shane further noted that the stations will be ADA-compliant.

Mr. Kraut noted that, in his opinion, the current budget for this project is not sufficient. He suggested that RIOC should wait until more money and time may be allocated for a better station design and construction....

(Note that the Tram Modernization Project is no longer running on schedule but projected to be back in service by late September/early October 2010)

At one time a Green Roof/Siding was being considered for the Roosevelt Island side Tram Station.


It will be interesting to see what the new design for the Tram Stations look like and how they will function for the various special needs users on Roosevelt Island, the elderly, disabled etc. Also, what will the Manhattan Tram station neighbors think of the new design? Last year, they were not very happy with the design presented to them and wanted their own green roof for the Manhattan Station.

More on Roosevelt Island Tram Station designs from earlier posts.

There will also be a Community Presentation on the Proposed Tram Station Design. According to RIOC:

Please be advised there will be a special community presentation of the proposed Tram Station Design on Monday, August 2nd, 5:30 PM at the Good Shepherd Community Center. Representatives will be present to answer questions.

For more information, please click on the link: http://rioc.com/pdf/TramPresentation.pdf

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

Image From RIOC

The architect Renzo Piano was originally contemplated to design the Tram Station. As reported in the 2/4/09 Main Street WIRE's RIOC Column:

...Preliminary sketches of Renzo Piano's design were presented by Mr. Piano himself on January 20. When further developed, the plans will be shared with the community. We expressed our concerns to Mr. Piano that function be the principal guide, to be accomplished within budget and on time....

But that did not work out.

UPDATE 7/23 - Several readers have suggested that the Tram Community Presentation on August 2 be moved to another location because of the stifling heat at the Good Shepherd Community Center caused by lack of air conditioning. I asked RIOC VP of Planning and Governmental Affairs Rosina Abramson if the site could be changed and she is looking into it. Will let you know what happens.

UPDATE 7/27 - Audio webcast of the Operations Committee meeting is now available.