New Roosevelt Island Red Bus Route To Start In Middle Of January, Red Bus Predictable Schedule Experiment During Non-Rush Hours To Be Tried Soon & Ambient Overhead Heating For Tram Stations

The current Red Bus stop at the Roosevelt Island Tram Station on the north side of the East/West Road will soon be moved to the South Side of the Street and a new Red Bus Route established.

During a meeting with members of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Island Services Committee last Wednesday, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Vice President Fernando Martinez confirmed that RIOC will implement the new Red Bus Route and Red Bus Tram Station Stop previously previously proposed by RIOC and reported in this earlier post. The new route is described below.

...Here's the Roosevelt Island Tram Station Plaza East/West Cross Street from above.

The proposed plan is that the Red Bus, instead of turning right as it currently does to drop off riders on the north side of the East/West Road (pictured at top), will go around the turnaround heading left

and drop off/pick up riders on the Tram Station Side of the street

in the spot where the Tram workers now park their cars near the construction trailers.

The Red Bus will then make a right on East Channel Road (facing Queens) heading towards Sportspark,

make another right at the South Side of Sportspark to the West Channel Road (facing Manhattan) and head north to resume it's route on Main Street towards the subway station. Before it gets to the Subway Station, the Red Bus will also stop next to the Visitors Center Kiosk.

This new route and bus stop will be implemented sometime during the middle of January 2011. Below is the new Red Bus Route. Click on the image to enlarge.

Mr. Martinez also agreed to a non-rush hour Red Bus route schedule experiment suggested by RIRA Planning Committee Chairperson Frank Farance. Starting at the Octagon, the Red Bus will operate under a fixed schedule, leaving every 20 minutes beginning on the hour and arrive at the Tram Station approximately 20 minutes later. For example, a Red Bus will leave the Octagon at 11 AM, 11:20 and 11:40 AM and arrive at the Tram Station on or before 11:20 AM, 11:40 AM and 12 PM respectively. The goal of this schedule is to have a predictable and consistent bus schedule during non-rush hour operations. This new experimental Red Bus schedule will be implemented within the next week or two and continue for about 3 or 4 weeks for evaluation. The Rush hour Red Bus Schedule will remain the same, operating under a continuous loop up and down the Island.

As to the discomfort experienced by some Tram riders due to standing outside at the stations in the cold weather, Mr. Martinez acknowledged that the tent

at the Roosevelt Island Tram Station was inadequate and that an overhead ambient heating system will be installed soon at both Tram Stations on a temporary basis this winter.