RIOC Update On Long Delayed $6.1 Million Roosevelt Island Tram Manhattan Station Elevator Project - Also Updates On RI Bike Ramp/Lane, Blackwell House Renovation Ribbon Cutting And Youth Center Renovation Work Begins This Month

What is the status of the long delayed Roosevelt Island $6.1 Million Tram elevator project

 Image of GC Eng Eng & Associates Tram Station Elevator Rendering From April 12, 2016 CB 8 Preeentation

first announced in April 2016 with projected construction start date in October 2016, but to date, still delayed? The Manhattan Tram Plaza park area is surrounded by fencing with no apparent work being done.

A Roosevelt Island resident tweets:

Does anybody know what’s happening with the tramway plaza construction which hasn’t progressed in months? @Rooseveltisland please tell me it’s not another project management failure by @RIOCny

— Alessandro Monetti (@AlexMonetti_) May 29, 2019

I asked the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) for a status update on the Tram Elevator Project. A RIOC Spokesperson replied today:

Manhattan Side Tram Elevators:

Unfortunately, this project has been delayed due to a subsurface geotechnical concern that required a complete re-design of the foundation system. Although the public has not seen much activity at the sight recently, RIOC has not been idle. We have been conducting soil boring tests and redesigning the foundation of the elevators.

We have also been working to obtain necessary approvals of our new drawings from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and New York City’s Department of Buildings (DOB). The contractor is currently filing for work permits with DOB, MTA and the Department of Environmental Protection. RIOC hopes to obtain these permits in mid-summer 2019.

The contractor will need 12 -14 months to complete the elevators once work on the elevators resumes.

RIOC's Spokesperson updates us on various other infrastructure projects:

Bike Ramp Update:

As you know, this project is being funded with Federal grants administered by the New York State Department of Transportation. The grant requires four (4) reviews during the design process:

• A historic analysis review
• A concept review
• A 50% development review
• A final construction review

We are at the second review point, which is the concept review. The design of the ramp is likely to undergo several changes throughout the approval process. RIOC will hold a public information session at a board meeting this fall. We hope to complete all four stages of review by the end of 2019, at which point we will have a better sense of when construction may begin.

Bike Lane Update:

In May, 2019, RIOC received money for the construction of a bike lane on Roosevelt Island. This summer, RIOC staff will be meeting with the New York State Department of Transportation and our consultant to develop a construction schedule. Please note that the Bike Lane project, like the Bike Ramp project, must also undergo several reviews during the design process:

• A historic analysis review
• A concept review
• A 50% development review
• A final construction review
• A New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) review for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) certification and State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) certification.

As with the Bike Ramp project, all plans can change at any point in the approval process. RIOC will show its preliminary plans to the public at a board meeting once the project begins to take form.

Blackwell House Update:

Final inspections and oversight regulatory permit close-outs are ongoing. We hope to have a date for a ribbon cutting ceremony in the near future.

Youth Center Update:

The contractor is set to mobilize on the site on June 17th. Work is scheduled to be completed in fall of 2019. We will keep you apprised of updates when we receive them.