RIOC Announces New Traffic Safety Measures For Roosevelt Island Waterfront Promenades - 10 MPH Speed Limit, Radar Speed Signs, Bollards And Possible Dismissal Of Employees Who Violate Safety Regulations, Private Vehicles Banned

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) announced today:

In response to several complaints about speeding vehicles on the Island, The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) is implementing several traffic safety measures designed to make the Island’s roadways safer for residents, stakeholders and employees.

Some of the measures RIOC has already taken and will take in the immediate future include:

• Speed limits on promenades have been lowered from 15 mph to 10 mph.
• Failure of RIOC employees to observe all safety regulations, especially speed, will result in possible dismissal.
• New radar speed signs have been ordered and will be placed on the east seawall promenade. A temporary speed radar device will be moved there today.
• Bollards will be placed in designated areas to prohibit the public from driving on the east seawall promenade. New signage will also show where vehicles – other than official RIOC vehicles – are prohibited.

All RIOC employees have undergone mandatory vehicle safety training in the past six months.

Reported July 31 on RIOC) banning cars

from the East Promenade

... In response to complaints about people driving along the eastern promenade, RIOC will soon be installing barriers and placing signage at key locations to prevent cars from accessing this area. RIOC and emergency vehicles will still be able to reach the promenade if necessary. Pedestrians and bicyclists will not be impeded by these barriers in any way. Placement of the barriers will begin over the next several weeks.

RIOC is taking these measures as part of its on-going commitment to keep Roosevelt Island safe for pedestrians, children and bicyclists....

Roosevelt Island residents reacted:

and:

• Thank you thank you
• Finally!!! It should of never been allowed, it wasn’t allowed before. They are not “back roads”, they are for pedestrians, and for people walking, biking and running.
• I never could quite understand why private vehicles were in any way permitted on those perimeter roads. I could only figure it was to accommodate loading and unloading. This used to be provided for on Main Street, with ONLY short term parking. But now we have to accommodate long term parkers with stickers, and there are no loading zones to speak of. Virtually no place for service vehicles to park during the day. All so that sticker and favored parkers can be accommodated'. That is really sad. I've abandoned trying to bring my car onto Main St. I just ferry back and forth from the garage, which I PAY for, unlike the stickered vehicles. And in that garage, I have to drive by the EMPTY handicapped spaces while I search for parking, while the stickered vehicles are out on the street....
• What they should ban is long term parking by RI workers in the courtyards and breezeways (which have become defacto parking lots) of Roosevelt Landings...and still permit loading and unloading in breezeways and back elevators....in addition does this ban include the west side where i was nearly run over?...
• Potential solution. Speed bumps close proximity before and after every intersection.
• Public Safety regularly speeds down the west roadway. Without lights. There is no warning for a child coming down one of the access ways. Should we wait for an accident that can’t be turned back?
• And who will protect pedestrians, children and seniors from outside bikers on our shore walkway that will no longer be a place to sit peacefully to read or watch the ocean?

The East and West Waterfront promenades are closed to private vehicles but RIOC Staff and Public Safety may use them but must adhere to the 10 mph speed limit.