What Do You Think Of The Proposed $14 Million Roosevelt Island East Side Bike Lane And Bridge Ramp - Will It Improve Safety And Access Or Is It A Safety Danger, Take The Survey

As reported April 24:

NY State Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced funding of $5 million for the Roosevelt Island East Side Bike Lane Promenade

Image From Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)

 and Bike Ramp project.

 2017 RIOC rendering of proposed Bridge Ramp

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) estimates the cost of the Bike Lane and Ramp at $14 million.

Roosevelt Island resident Peter Blumen opposes this Bike Ramp and Lane plan. Mr. Blumen writes

“NOTHING IS DECIDED YET” is the dog whistle to the developers and architects to keep working on the bike bridge. So said our local appointees last year. With fresh images of crowding this weekend in our minds, I re-addressed myself to the dangers of the proposed, planned, and budgeted Bicycle Ramp. The proposed bridge, not the result of any public outcry, will increase danger and guarantee injuries to bikers and pedestrians. Bicyclists have been able to access our island just fine as is. A dedicated ramp can only create opportunities for accidents and aggression. Also likely the upshot of lobbying for NYS budget money, $5m has been approved what will bloom likely into a $15m+ project.

Poorly planned lanes result in injury and death. In October 2014, Anna Maria Mostrom, 29, died on Roosevelt Island’s Main Street due to a poorly designed bus route. That simple unoffending loop into the Motorgate was enough. Everyday a white memorial bicycle sits chained 20 feet away to remind us.

I have conducted an online poll the last two years for public opinion and both times Islanders have expressed a significant majority against the need and desire for the proposed ramp.



Click here to take the Survey.

Indeed, it must be the creature of construction and architectural firms insouciance while vying for the $14,000,000 to build it. An example of mixing bicycles and pedestrians (without an accelerating ramp).



Please go to this site and register your vote either way about the proposed bridge.

RIOC has more on the Roosevelt Island Bike Ramp/Lane plan.

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) is excited to be the recipient of a $5 million award from the New York State Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) for the construction of a bike lane on the east promenade of the island. We look forward to the planning of this project, which includes infrastructure improvements, electrical updates, as well as pavement, landscape, lighting, and signage finishes.

"New York State is making historic, nation-leading investments in cleaner and more sustainable transportation infrastructure which is crucial to the growth of local economies," New York State Governor, Andrew Cuomo, said in a statement. "These investments in bike and pedestrian enhancements across the state will help revitalize communities, reduce our carbon footprint and demonstrate once again that New York is building for the future."

In April 2017, RIOC was also approved for a $2.96 million award from the TAP Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) towards the estimated $4 million bike ramp project construction.

“The proposed bike ramp and bike lane projects aim to improve access and circulation to the island by constructing a bike ramp that will provide cyclists safe travel from the top of the Roosevelt Island Bridge down to the East Promenade” said Susan Rosenthal, President and CEO of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. She adds, “The new bike lane will provide a safe path for cyclists along the waterfront of the island, away from Main Street vehicular traffic.”

RIOC has procured Dewberry Engineers and their team, including Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, to design the ramp and lane projects.

According to Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Planning Committee Chair Mickey Rindler:

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association and its Planning Committee have advocated for bicycle lanes for many years. We are very happy to hear that Governor Cuomo has approved $5 million in funding for the proposed helix bike ramp and east side bike lane. Several of our members attended the open house and route walk last fall and gave feedback to the consultants RIOC hired to design the new ramp and lane. We look forward to continuing to have input into the design and implementation once the draft plans are received by RIOC. Our goal is to ensure that the paths improve not only the quality and safety of bicycling on the Island, but also the safety of pedestrians and other users of our promenades, street crossings and walkways.

RIRA Vice President and former Planning Committee Chair David Lawson, writing in a personal capacity says:

As the former Chair of the RIRA Planning Committee forth past four years, having led the effort of RIRA for the modernization and diversification of transportation means on Roosevelt Island in light of its growing population, having advocated tirelessly towards Susan Rosenthal, President and CEO or RIOC for the development of bike and pedestrian lanes on the island for safety all Roosevelt islanders, I salute this decision by Governor Cuomo and thank Susan Rosenthal for her unwavering support on this matter.

The proposed Roosevelt Island bike ramp and Eastside bike lane Promenade will allow for the connection of bicyclists from the top of the Roosevelt Island Bridge down to the East Promenade and provide a two-way ¾-mile safe path for bicyclists and pedestrians along the waterfront of the Island away from Main Street vehicular traffic. This will complement the exiting bike path running around the Cornell campus.

We now hope that this first project and appropriation for enhancing transportation infrastructure will be completed quickly and that additional funding will be forthcoming to allow such bike lane to be built all around the island. I am confident that this will provide Roosevelt Islanders with an alternative mode of transportation and strengthen safety for all, alleviate other limited public transportation means on Roosevelt Island, help reduce carbon emission and contribute to encourage Islanders to bike for commute, pleasure and fitness and to the overall objective of a greener environment for Roosevelt Island, the City and the State of New York.

RIRA Planning Committee member and Roosevelt Island activist Frank Farance adds:

It's unclear what part of the bike ramp project they are paying for. The first thing that needs to be done is an Island-wide survey of bike planning.

For example, it doesn't make sense to study the east side of the Island and not the west side, as traffic patterns would affect each other. Also, they should not just drop a bike lane any where near the intersection at the base of the helix as that intersection has very complex traffic patterns among cars, trucks, bikes, and pedestrians.

 Furthermore, the bike/car traffic needs to be studied at the base of the RI Bridge (Vernon and 36 Ave) as that intersection is already dangerous and adding more bike traffic is likely to cause injury/death. Not to mention, the artists rendering shows a bike ramp that interferes with the emergency access road in the promenade (violates GDP), so a better bike ramp would be inside the helix.

I asked RIOC President Susan Rosenthal:

Has RIOC received the approximately $25 Million from NY State for the Cornell Tech deal yet?

Also,is the $5 million from NY State for the Bike Lane/Ramp allocated as any portion of the money due from the State for the Cornell deal or is it a separate funding source?

Any comment from RIOC about plans for the Bike Lane/Ramp and status of Cornell Tech funds?

Ms Rosenthal replied:

We received the $25 million before the end of the calendar year. The money is being used for a host of projects: approximately 70% for building repairs and maintenance, such as for Blackwell House, Motorgate, Sportspark, Tramway repairs and Youth Center renovations; approximately 30% for land improvements, such as seawall railings and park, playground and field repairs.

The bike ramp and bike lane grants are totally separate from the “Cornell funds”. We are incredibly excited about these two grants; in the past, I’ve shared with you my belief that our island is perfect for a bike lane around the entire perimeter--- these grants are the first steps toward that dream becoming a reality....

A resident commented:

Just what the island needs- hundreds of idiots on bikes visiting the island. There are lots of things they can fix with that money. Way to keep ruining what was once a special place.

Another:

I'll use it. I hope it can carry small motor vehicles in an emergency.

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse asked:

Stay tuned for more and take the Survey to give your opinion on the Roosevelt Island Bike Ramp/Lane.