Good News For Roosevelt Island Transportation This Weekend - F Train To And From Manhattan, Both Tram Cabins Running & East River Ferry Service Too - But How To Solve Ridiculous Tram Overcrowding? Separate Lines, Congestion Pricing For Tourists?

Yay, for a change Roosevelt Island residents will have weekend F Trains running to and from Manhattan, both Tram Cabins operating as well as the East River Astoria Route Ferry service.

But there is still a huge overcrowding problem with Tourists on the Roosevelt Island Tram at what seems to be all times of day and not just on weekends.

Residents are looking for answers from the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) to alleviate the Tram overcrowding. Many residents have asked that separate lines for Roosevelt Island residents/workers be formed for priority boarding over tourists.

A long time resident wrote:

... wouldn't it be fair to have residents and island employees board first, then tourists? So you have two lines. Might stop the groaning. It is getting out of control!

A Tram Staffer responded:

When will people realize a residents-only system would never work?

There's also the possibility of the tourists becoming fed up from waiting themselves and creating unnecessary conflict with the residents as a result. This has happened at the tram before.

Also it might seem fair in hindsight but you have to keep in mind that the tram is a form of public transportation, meaning first come; first serve. The tourists may be overbearing but priority service could cause more problems than solve the pre-existing ones....

I asked the Tram Staffer:

Do you think it is possible to discourage tourists by charging them more to ride the Tram? Say $10 each way. That's much cheaper than going to the Top Of Empire State Building. The MTA has a residents discount program for Verrazano and other Bridges - Why not for the Tram and charge tourists more than residents and workers? Although in practice, not sure how it could work.

Tram Staffer replied:

Well, seeing as how tourists are gullible enough to purchase overpriced food on the island, I could somewhat see this working.

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse continues the conversation.

Let’s try Roosevelt Island Tram Congestion pricing for tourists to discourage them. $10 bucks a ride for tourists.

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) April 23, 2019

But the upside is that if we have a steady stream of tourists we may be able to support better on-island businesses. I am not convinced more tourists is a bad thing. Or something we control. Better to plan to take advantage. Agree about the tourist pricing for the tram, 100%

— Minnehanonck (@minnehanonck) April 23, 2019

A Roosevelt Island business needs to be able to prosper based on the approx 11 thousand residents who live here plus workers and the rent @TheHudsonCos charges should reflect that.

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) April 23, 2019

I don’t agree it was Zog participants that drove residents away from Riverwalk Bar & Grill - it was owner’s decision to go for lowest common denominator. Food was abominable-that’s a deal breaker for an Island with large % of residents who are immigrants who value real food!

— Minnehanonck (@minnehanonck) April 23, 2019

I don’t disagree with that. @TheHudsonCos should do themselves a favor and court high quality businesses at low rent for their spaces - they’ll see returns back based on rental prices they can charge.

— Minnehanonck (@minnehanonck) April 23, 2019

Just took tram and it was fine, but spring break is this week, so expect more families venturing to #rooseveltisland @RIOCny @BilldeBlasio @BenKallos @MTA wake up and please do something!

— Jonn Nubian ® (@JonnNubian) April 23, 2019

The residents of RI should have a special pass giving them the ability to cut the lines and get where they’re going without waiting 🚠🚊⛴🏭

— Andeera (@Andeera33) April 23, 2019

We need tourists to develop places like the Riverwalk restaurant, that I really miss! A line "residents" and "tourists" would work somehow

— Fanny (@Fannyazimuts) April 24, 2019

Tourists bring a lot of money to NYC, maybe the frustration should be directed to @riocny and @TheHudsonCos for overdevelopment of RI without the improvement of transport infrastructure. Though I do like the idea of an RI resident line during busy tram times.

— CherylE (@cateeoz) April 24, 2019

You can’t over populate a tiny island and make only way for east side access a tourist attraction! Come on people!

— 2019 HAIR PAINTER NYC (@coloredaddicted) April 26, 2019

I have gotten so fed up with this that I now cut the line, walk to the front and say “I need to go to work” ... it has worked, but I only do it when I really am going to work. It is not a sustainable practice of course, but when @RIOCny fails we must come up with our own solution

— Alessandro Monetti (@AlexMonetti_) April 24, 2019

This is the problem for Roosevelt Island resident and worker tram riders. https://t.co/7nYvZC0Jvj

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) April 23, 2019

Putting a non-NYC resident price is a good idea and could be used to generate additional revenue for running the best possible service so we all win. Does @RIOCny unilaterally decide the price?

— Minnehanonck (@minnehanonck) April 23, 2019