High Speed Test Run Of Roosevelt Island To Long Island City's Anable Basin Ferry Service - Whew, That's Some Trip, Hope Ferry Service Comes Real Soon!!
Is ferry service to Long Island City (LIC) from Roosevelt Island close to becoming a reality? I don't know for sure, but this video shows what is described as a test run for a ferry between Roosevelt Island and Anable Basin in Long Island City.
Whew, that's some trip.
It would be great if this happens soon, opening up access to and from LIC's Vernon B'lvd, Gantry State Park and East River ferry service to Roosevelt Island.
11 comments :
This would be awesome. I wonder what the "RIOC Tax" would be on the trip, though? I suspect they'll try to tack on a few bucks to the $4 trip.
Wow that was fun. Hope it happens. Thanks Rick!
Mark Lyon, I have been following your posts on this blog... well, since you're all over it. Why are you so anti-RIOC? Instead of negatively commenting and complaining all the time, why don't you try speaking with the folks there. Share your briliant ideas and become part of the island's solution instead of part of this islan's problem.
Being critical and pushing for change is in no way anti-RIOC. I am dissatisfied with their attempts to monetize and/or control to death things which could improve the quality of life on the island. I want to see them do better because I want to see Roosevelt Island be a better and more inviting place.
I made significant efforts to have my voice heard on the food truck issue only to see them implement a protectionist policy which will ensure we never see variety or choice. I think their permitting scheme for same is inappropriate given the limits of their authorizing legislation. I was particularly shocked, though, to see how the "final result" didn't really match up with what had been stated during the meetings; it took another push to get RIOC staff to allow single-month permits and locations near the subway (and, even so, the exorbitant price will likely prevent vendors from coming). This specific comment was borne out frustration from that experience.
I've tried to get similarly involved with other efforts, such as the introduction of bikeshare and increasing transparency in RIOC operations. I would like to use my personal bike more, but hesitated to do so because of the "no overnight" signs seen on many of the racks (since I often work late, I would be concerned about returning home to find my bike lock clipped and having to hike to PSD to get my property). With no bike rooms or outdoor storage at my buildings, bike share seemed like an excellent option. Alas, it is not to be. CB8 pushed for bikes on the island, but without RIOC willing to ask for them, Alta and DOT aren't going to send any our way.
My ability to attend RIOC committee meetings has been limited lately due to my work schedule (If I don't keep this project moving forward, Grenadier Realty will be kicking me off the island), but I do find Rick's blog a convenient and easy way to offer input. As I start having the ability to get out of the office in time for the 5:30 meetings, I will do so.
RIOC does get some things right. The parks department does a wonderful job of keeping our fields and open spaces attractive. The transit folks run a reasonably reliable bus and tram service. And, while I'm disappointed to see some things fall so far into disrepair, it does seem like RIOC is attempting to replace worn out or broken property with beautiful and long-lasting options (for example, the new meditation step lumber, Good Shepherd slate roof, updated pedestrian walkway ceilings at Roosevelt Landings and the nice new plaza).
There are things I wish they would push for -- ensuring that all new buildings have non-electric heating and providing incentives for buildings to upgrade (or, even better, providing district heating/cooling for the entire island with a modernized steam plant / electrical co-generation), forcing buildings to provide transparency for sub-metered utilities, eliminating non-essential (delivery/drop off/pick up/handicapped/hospital) traffic and parking from the surface streets, taking a zero tolerance approach on lifestyle crimes, demanding that its commercial tenants run high-quality operations, and promoting the island as a retreat for people from all over the city.
As the campus is built, it's going to be increasingly important that RIOC do an excellent job with infrastructure, public safety, transit and maintenance. They're going to have to put their collective feet down and ensure that the needs of residents aren't subordinated to the desires of the University. I plan to be there for that, and to make as much noise as possible if they fall down on the job (but am also happy to praise them for getting things right).
Mark I think your ideas are fantastic and your comments are often right on point... particularly regarding the food truck debacle. Keep sharing!
Why is "delivery/drop off/pick up/handicapped/hospital) traffic and parking" "non-essential" - or do you mean, sometimes it is, and other times it is not? Either way, I don't understand how this traffic can be eliminated from the streets - or rather, Main St.
Keep in mind that traffic is bound to increase with the new campus, especially with the hotel, and just as we all have learned to cut existing traffic slack, especially the Access-o-ride vehicles, other medical transport, school buses and the like, we also will have to adjust to the, no doubt, many, many delivery trucks that will need to make daily runs down Main St to the hotel once it is built.
It would be nice if deliveries from various vendors and suppliers could all arrive on one shared or Cornell truck, cutting down on traffic and pollution etc. - but that would mean the supplies would first have to be offloaded at another location in the 5 boroughs, then consolidated onto a single Cornell truck, and then trucked onto RI. If Cornell rents a warehouse somewhere that could handle this - which would involve safe storage of food for the hotel - maybe it could be done. It would certainly save the Island from alot of daily truck traffic. But it's probably impossible to do, logistically etc.
My parenthetical was missing a "not". I think we should eliminate much of the private traffic from main street, because (as you correctly note) delivery traffic is going to be significantly increasing. Near my building there are frequently cars with passes on them allowing unmetered parking; those cars should be in Motorgate. As should the teacher and school visitor cars. The only vehicles on main street should be there for a purpose - getting/leaving something or someone - and then should leave once that task is complete. RIOC needs the revenue from the garage and we need the space on the roads.
While I hope as much construction traffic as possible arrives by barge - I like the idea of a central storage facility for the campus. That would dramatically cut down on unnecessary trips across the bridge and helix.
I would argue that even deliveries should only be allowed during certain hours of the day. That's how it works in all major European cities that I know of where the city centers are all designated pedestrian-only zones. Only emergency vehicles and mass transit is allowed at any time. Deliveries during certain, usually in the morning, hours. No personal traffic, not even bicycles. And even if people live in those areas, it works.
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