Roosevelt Island Tram Revenue Decline, Fare Evasion Part Of Problem Says RIOC - Public Safety Officers And Video Cameras Will Be Used To Catch Fare Beaters

According to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Information Officer Alonza Robertson:

After observing a decline in Tram revenue during the months of platform repair last year which limited service to one cabin; and then noticing no discernable increase upon the resumption of two Tram cabins in 2018, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) officials wondered, “how come?”

Part of the explanation: fare evasion.

After meetings with RIOC Public Safety Department Chief Jack McManus and Deputy Chief Kevin Brown, RIOC President Susan Rosenthal announced Wednesday that all Tram would first be warned by PSD officers, and new posted signs, that fare beating is a Class A misdemeanor (under New York Penal Code 165.15 sub 03). Those who fail to comply, and attempt to ride without paying the $2.75 fare, will be issued a summons, she said.

Reduced rates of $1.30 are available for seniors, students and the disabled and can be obtained through the NYC Metropolitan Transit Authority website.

Rosenthal said PSD officers would be stationed at the location 12 hours-a-day beginning at 7 a.m. and 24-hour video surveillance would be re-activated and monitored for scofflaws.

“The Tram costs a lot of money to maintain and it is unacceptable for people to openly do this,” she said.

Reduced rates of $1.30 are available for seniors, students and the disabled and can be obtained through the NYC Metropolitan Transit Authority website.

Constructed during a two year period for $6.8 million, the Tram first opened May 17, 1976; and was modernized in 2010 at the cost of $25 million. Service warranties on that new equipment have now expired and RIOC is paying for Tram maintenance, from sub-contractor Leitner-Pomo of America, at full cost. 

I asked Mr. Robertson:

Can I get the numbers that show reduction of tram income.

Also I saw a kid about 6-7 years old with parent who slipped under turnstyle.

Do children Under a certain age get in free?

Mr. Robertson replied:

Children under 44 inches tall don’t have to pay; everyone else taller does.

We don’t have a definitive amount for the lost income due only to fare evaders as we can’t accurately estimate how many 2017 Tram riders who left during platform construction, to use the train, bus or ferry, never came back in 2018.

However we have been physically observing fare-beaters at RI Tram Station for a period of time now to accurately say this is a serious problem.