No Pedestrian Safety Barrier For Queens Side of Roosevelt Island Bridge Says NYC Dep't Of Transportation - More Test Openings For Bridge and Often Delayed Rehabilitation Project Scheduled To Be Completed At End of August 2011
Image of Queens Side of the Roosevelt Island Bridge Without Pedestrian Safety Barrier
Previous posts have reported on the desire by some for a pedestrian safety barrier on the Queens side of the Roosevelt Island Bridge Pathway. There is an existing pedestrian safety barrier on the portion of the Bridge closer to the Roosevelt Island side
Image of Roosevelt Island Side of Roosevelt Island Bridge with Safety Barrier
but it does not extend to the Queens side of the Bridge.
Queens Side of Roosevelt Island Bridge without Safety Barrier
Roosevelt Island's NY State Assembly Member Micah Kellner and NYC Council Member Jessica Lappin sent this letter to NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Manhattan Borough Commissioner Margaret Forgione urging that a pedestrian safety barrier be installed along the Queens side of the Roosevelt Island Bridge and that the Roosevelt Island community be apprised of any progress in the construction of such a safety barrier.
Dear Commissioner Forgione,Commissioner Forgione responded by saying no to a pedestrian safety barrier on the Queens side of the Roosevelt Island Bridge because, according to the DOT, the sidewalk is in compliance with required standards.
We are writing in regards to the status of a pedestrian barrier on the Roosevelt Island Bridge. Currently, pedestrians on the eastern side of the bridge do not have a physical barrier to protect them from traffic. Such a barrier was unfortunately and incomprehensibly not included in the original design of the bridge.
The absence of a barrier on the eastern side has created hazardous conditions for the large disabled community on Roosevelt Island, pedestrians with children, and the many others who understandably feel unsafe crossing the bridge while unprotected from traffic. As the only thoroughfare to and from Roosevelt Island, the bridge is extremely busy at all hours of the day. Wheelchair users who cross the bridge risk falling off the curb’s edge. On the extremely narrow path, this can easily occur when individuals attempt to pass one another
Members of the community, including the Roosevelt Island Residents Association and the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association, have contacted us for assistance in meeting with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to determine the best way to incorporate a barrier into the existing structure. We understand that this problem has been acknowledged by the DOT, and that you have been examining the issue. However, the community has not been kept apprised of any progress that has been made towards the construction of a barrier.
The absence of this barrier is a tragic accident waiting to happen. We ask that you meet with local community leaders to discuss the future plans for the bridge. Thank you for your attention in this matter.
DOT Roosevelt Island Bridge Pedestrian Safety Barrier Letter
During last night's Roosevelt Island Resident's Association (RIRA) meeting, Kellner's staffer Robert Atterbury told the Council Members that Assembly Member Kellner and Council Member Lappin are working on reversing DOT's decision as well as setting up a meeting between Roosevelt Island community members and DOT officials to further explain the need for a Roosevelt Island Bridge pedestrian safety barrier along the Queens side of the Bridge.
DOT Commissioner Forgione also reports in her letter to Mr. Kellner and Ms. Lappin that the often delayed $86.5 million Roosevelt Island Bridge Rehabilitation Project's new completion date is now the end of August 2011.
This means that there will be more testing on the Roosevelt Island Bridge.
Image of Roosevelt Island Bridge Opening From Jonathan Hoo
According to the DOT:
The New York City Department of Transportation Division of Bridges will again resume testing the newly rehabilitated Roosevelt Island Bridge on Monday, June 6th at 10:00 a.m. The bridge will be fully closed for up to 15 minutes. All traffic in the queue must dissipate before a second 15-minute closure can occur.. Testing will conclude daily by 2:00 p.m. and be completed on June 10th. Electrical and mechanical testing requires intermittent closures of the bridge to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. In the weeks after June 10th, should sporadic testing be necessary, NYCDOT will inform the Roosevelt Island community and the general public.
The work is weather sensitive and inclement weather may cause the work to be rescheduled or delayed. Should this occur, additional notification of the revised schedule will be provided. Variable message boards will inform motorists and pedestrians of the closures. NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agents will assist with traffic control at Vernon Blvd and 36th Avenue. During the bridge testing, NYPD, NYFD and EMS units will be available to Roosevelt Island residents and visitors by dialing 911.
Click On Image to Enlarge
