RIOC Says It Will Run An Afternoon Roosevelt Island Red Bus Shuttle To And From Manhattan This Weekend Beginning At 3 PM To Help Residents As Alternative To Crowded Tram During Busy Cherry Blossom Season - Watch Video Of Red Bus Shuttle Ride From Second Ave To RI Last Weekend, Only 15 Minutes

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

RIOC’s Transportation Department will once again run an afternoon Red Bus Shuttle from Roosevelt Island to Manhattan this weekend (April 6th and 7th) to help residents with off-island travel during the busy Cherry Blossom season.

Shuttles will run hourly (traffic permitting) from 3PM to 7PM from the Roosevelt Island Tramway, making all northbound local stops to Capobianco Field (opposite PS/IS 217). The shuttle will depart on the half hour from the Manhattan Tram station, from the Southwest side of 2nd Avenue, between 58th and 59th Street, and will make all southbound local bus stops (starting with 591 Main St.) to the Tram. The last shuttle trips will depart from the Roosevelt Island Tram at 7 PM and Manhattan at 7:30 PM.

Please note that regular Red Bus service may run on an adjusted schedule to accommodate the additional Tram shuttle service. We also encourage island residents to utilize the F-Train which is now back to full service.

Thank you,

-RIOC Transportation

The RIOC Red Bus Manhattan Shuttle is a great alternative when, like last weekend, there are crazy long lines of tourists with waiting times to get to the Tram Staircase of at least an hour.

Last week RIOC extended the Red Bus Manhattan Shuttle hours to begin at 11 AM, 4 hours earlier than the usual time. This coming weekend, the Manhattan Red Bus Shuttle is back to beginning at 3 PM. As one resident said upon receiving the RIOC advisory noted:

Good Grief!!!

I see they have learned nothing from last week that having earlier hours that Residents Will benefit from — like starting at 11 am — is a good idea.

I asked RIOC Communications Director Bryant Daniels:

Why is the weekend Manhattan Red Bus Shuttle starting at 3 pm and not 11 am like last week?

Mr Daniels replied:

We ran it earlier because there was no F Train. With the Train back, we want to revert the Shuttle to the most active hours, reduce wear and tear where we can on the buses.

And keep serving Main Street.

The Manhattan Red Bus shuttle takes about 15 minutes from Second Avenue 59th street over the Queensboro Bridge thru Long Island City to Roosevelt Island.

Watch the video of a trip from last week.

It will be interesting to see with the F Train back, how that impacts the Roosevelt Island Tram line, if at all.

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks NYC And Northeast United States This Morning, Did You Feel The Shaking On Roosevelt Island? Tram Tower Support System Resistant To This Kind Of Seismic Event Says RIOC

Did you feel the shaking on Roosevelt Island from this morning's 4.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the northeast United States? 

Notable quake, preliminary info: M4.8 - 7 km N of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey https://t.co/SE99SKwosw https://t.co/ADcDLsTp8b pic.twitter.com/9Q9UvhogCP

— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) April 5, 2024

According to the US Geological Survey:

Tectonic Summary

The April 5, 2024, M 4.8 earthquake near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, occurred as a result of oblique reverse and strike-slip faulting at shallow depths in the crust. Although this event did not occur near a plate boundary, such “intraplate” earthquakes can and do occur. While this earthquake is relatively small globally, earthquakes of this magnitude are commonly widely felt in the eastern United States because of efficient seismic wave propagation in the region.

Earthquakes in the eastern US are infrequent but not unexpected. Since 1950, 40 other earthquakes of magnitude 3 and larger have occurred within 250 km of today’s earthquake. In that time range, the April 5, 2024, earthquake is the largest. Within 500 km of the April 5th earthquake, 13 earthquakes M 4.5 and larger have been recorded since 1950, the largest being the August 23, 2011, M 5.8 Mineral Virginia earthquake which caused substantial damage and was felt throughout the eastern US. The April 5, 2024, earthquake occurred in a region where faults have been previously identified and may be reactivated at any time.

Click here for more detailed info from USGS.

This is the second earthquake to hit the New York area this year. For comparison, the January 2 earthquake which was centered in Astoria was of a 1.7 magnitude.

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) sent out this advisory:

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

This morning the greater New York City area experienced a 4.8 magnitude earthquake, with the epicenter of the quake sitting just west of Manhattan.

PSD is currently assessing the situation on the island. Preliminary reports indicate there are no ongoing safety concerns at this time.

We’ve checked in with all our departments and have resumed normal operations. RIOC will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide the community updates as needed.

Thank you,

Team RIOC

I asked RIOC:

Will the Roosevelt Island Tram towers have to be inspected?

RIOC Communications Director Bryant Daniels replied:

Following the earthquake, POMA deployed two tram mechanics to perform a visual inspection of the tram line equipment, looking for any indications of damage. Thankfully, the intensity of the quake was only moderate, and the towers are robustly constructed, with their foundations anchored directly into the bedrock, making the tram tower support system resistant to this kind of seismic event. The inspection was completed with no incidents to report at this time, so operations are continuing as normal.

Here's more on today's earthquake.

For a lot of human history, an earthquake followed a few days later by a total eclipse would be taken as a pretty good sign of the end times

— Bill Mahoney (@mahoneyw) April 5, 2024

This morning, New Yorkers experienced one of the largest earthquakes to occur on the East Coast in the last century.

Thankfully there have been no reports of injuries or damage, but additional aftershocks are still possible. Please be prepared and take steps to stay safe. pic.twitter.com/pTGwWmb7gF

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) April 5, 2024

Following this morning's 4.8 magnitude earthquake, 3 much smaller aftershocks hit our region: 1.8 magnitude at 12:31pm, 2.0 magnitude at 1:14pm, and 2.0 magnitude a few minutes ago.

Aftershocks of these sizes are normal and are not expected to cause further damage.

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) April 5, 2024

Why the Northeast is more vulnerable to widespread and intense shaking https://t.co/w2ta8zRKjY

— Gloria Pazmino (@GloriaPazmino) April 5, 2024

Buildings are older in the Northeast and therefore may not be designed to the latest earthquake code, the USGS notes. This is particularly a concern for shorter buildings like houses. Earthquakes tend to shake in a faster back-and-forth motion in the East compared to the West

— Gloria Pazmino (@GloriaPazmino) April 5, 2024

UPDATE 6:50 PM:

Did not feel this aftershock on Roosevelt Island https://t.co/s33flauDb4

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) April 5, 2024

USGS confirms aftershock has taken place. At this point we have no major damage reports coming in. Please call 911 for life safety issues & 311 for non-emergencies. Check in on your family & friends, esp. those who are vulnerable & have accessibility & functionality issues. https://t.co/EeGYsVoeb4

— NYC Emergency Management (@nycemergencymgt) April 5, 2024

The @USGS asks that anyone who experienced the 4.0M aftershock this evening to fill out their survey:https://t.co/uEQeCg8qYa

— NYC Emergency Management (@nycemergencymgt) April 5, 2024

New Cafe Opens At NY Health & Hospitals Coler Hospital On Roosevelt Island - It's "A Welcome Addition" And "The Food Was Excellent, I loved The Interaction With My Peers" Coler Nursing Home Residents Say

The NYC Health & Hospitals Corp  Coler Long Term Care facility has opened a brand new Cafe for their Roosevelt Island residents.

According to the NYC Health & Hospitals Corp:

NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler in partnership with Sodexo today announced the launch of The Coler Café, the most recent addition to the dining and culinary experience available to hundreds of nursing home residents. The collaborative approach of Sodexo’s food service associates and Coler’s team of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists offers a flavorful menu, individually tailored to the dietary needs of each resident. The Coler Café is open two days during the week, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 11:30am – 1:30pm. Coler residents can make reservations through their designated care teams to ensure the appropriate meals meet their dietary parameters.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler CEO Stephen Catullo receives a "high-five" from a nursing home resident, celebrating the launch of the new enhanced dining option.

“The Coler Café is an exciting person-centered co-design project led by Sodexo with the active participation of our residents and multiple departments, including Food and Nutrition, Nursing, Therapeutic Recreation, Environmental Services, Engineering and Maintenance, and Administration,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler Chief Executive Officer Stephen Catullo. “The overarching goal of the Café is to provide a new and different dining experience to our residents in which they have a greater variety of food choices to be enjoyed in a café-style setting.”

The Coler Café provides a friendly ambiance where residents can enjoy a meal with their neighbors and visiting family members.

Here’s a glimpse at a few menu options at The Coler Café:

• Choice of Tomato or Chicken Noodle Soup
• Roast Beef Panini with French Dipping Broth
• Chicken Quesadilla
• Pressed Grilled Cheese
• Craft Your Own Salad (Protein, Assorted Cheese, Vegetables)
• Fresh Baked Dessert of the Day

The top resident picks from The Coler Café menu were the Roast Beef Panini and Chicken Quesadilla.

“A great experience! Certainly, a welcome addition to Coler,” said President of the Coler Resident Council Francine Benjamin.

“I felt very welcome, the atmosphere was wonderful,” said Coler Resident Bennie Williams. “The food was excellent and I loved the interaction with my peers.”

“We want to thank the Coler team for their dedication and hard work in getting us to this grand opening of the Coler Café,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Assistant Vice President Mercedes Redwood and Senior Director Stephen Castro. “We’re so excited to have this designated area for our residents to offer them additional meal choices directly at the point of service while showcasing different types of food concepts and cuisines.”

“The Coler café is not just for good eating, it’s the experience shared and the memories made when gathered around the table, and a sense of independence for our residents,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Joan Lannaman.

“We are so proud to deliver this innovative dining experience to the residents of Coler. This program has demonstrated our commitment to improving the overall resident dining experience,” said Sodexo Client Executive at NYC Health + Hospitals Post-Acute Care Tracy Dell Italia.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler partners with the Sodexo team to create a new dining experience onsite for hundreds of residents to enjoy.

“The food quality is excellent. What a joy to watch our residents socialize with each other and staff while having a delicious meal,” said Judith Berdy, Chair of Coler Auxiliary Board. “I appreciate the dedication and commitment of the staff to make our residents’ dining experience enjoyable.”

During last year's Roosevelt Island Day, Ms Berdy described how you can get involved and volunteer  

 at Coler.

Roosevelt Island Mentioned By John Oliver In March 31 Last Week Tonight Program Segment About Food Delivery Apps - RI Resident Orders Single Slice Of Cake From Upper East Side And Does Not Tip Bicycle Delivery Worker

This week’s main story is about food delivery apps. How they function, why they’re not as profitable as you may think, and one thing about them that could definitely keep you from getting into heaven. pic.twitter.com/Qmqvd80XeH

— Last Week Tonight (@LastWeekTonight) April 1, 2024

Several Roosevelt Island residents reporting about a segment on the March 31st HBO program Last Week Tonight With John Oliver which mentioned Roosevelt Island . According to one Tipster:

On Last Week Tonight On HBO, John Oliver’s main story was on delivery apps among other things, and the poor to no tipping practices of folks ordering & expecting deliveries. One brief segment showed the Route taken by one delivery person from Manhattan, over the bridge to LIC to the 36th Ave bridge, onto RI south of the bridge, all to deliver a single piece of cake — and for which the person received No Tip ... And for which the cake-recipient seemed to have no shame ...

Here's the segment.

The Upper East Side to Roosevelt Island cake slice delivery with no tip incident occurred in 2021 and reported on here at the time.

On April 1:

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today announced that, effective immediately, the city's minimum pay rate for app-based restaurant delivery workers is increasing to at least $19.56 per hour before tips. The $19.56 rate reflects the 2024 phase-in rate of $18.96 and an inflation adjustment of 3.15 percent – up from an average of just $5.39 per hour before enforcement began. When the rate is fully phased-in on April 1, 2025, workers will earn at least $19.96 per hour with an adjustment for inflation. Since DCWP began enforcing the minimum pay rate in December 2023, apps have paid the city's delivery workers $16.3 million more per week across the workforce – an increase of 165 percent – totaling an additional $847.6 million annually.

"Our delivery workers have consistently delivered for us – and today the city is delivering for them," said Mayor Adams. "I was raised by a working mother who supported my five siblings and me, and there are thousands of delivery workers doing the same to support themselves and their families. And while wages have not kept up with the rising cost of living, since the new pay rate has been enforced, delivery workers have already seen a 165 percent increase in their pay per week. This is what it looks like to stand with working-class New Yorkers and build a fairer economy."...

During our city's darkest days, our app-based restaurant delivery workers grabbed their bikes and kept us moving.

These delivery workers have worked so hard for this city — so we're giving them a raise.

Read more: https://t.co/RnkAB8njxl pic.twitter.com/YEU4FkoNz5

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 1, 2024

Be a decent person and tip well.

You're Invited To Crowd Safety Awareness Preparedness Zoom Webinar Presented By Roosevelt Island Residents Association Community Emergency Committee Thursday April 4 - Have You Thought About "What If Something Goes Wrong When I'm Enjoying The Island's Cherry Blossoms?"

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Community Emergency Committee Chair Frank Farance reports:

Dear Roosevelt Island Community,

Thursday night, April 4 at 8-9PM is our next webinar. Without worrying you, have you thought about "What if something goes wrong when I'm enjoying the Island's Cherry Blossoms 

with a throng of other visitors? 

Riding the subways? 

Enjoying a concert at a stadium?". Actually, you can be better prepared by learning about crowd safety, egress awareness, subway safety, personal safety techniques, and other important tips. These presentations and related training are important and reduce stress and make you more resilient - like all preparedness trainings.

This is a whole family event. RIRA Community Emergency Committee Chair Frank Farance is presenting. All presentations use the same link.

Zoom info: https://tinyurl.com/RIRACEC2023

When: April 4 at 8-9PM

Zoom Meeting ID: 912 3049 8521

Passcode: 591680 Dial in: +1 929 205 6099

UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS:

April 11, 2024, 8-9 PM: Spring Cleaning Prep #1: Smoke Detectors, Go Bags, Comms Plan

April 18, 2024, 8-9 PM: Spring Cleaning Prep #2: Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality

April 25, 2024, 8-9 PM: Spring Cleaning Prep #3: Build Your Storm Recovery Kit

May 2, 2024, 8-9 PM: Coastal Storm Prep #1: Hurricane Season

You Can "Adopt" Your Very Own Comfy Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park Adirondack Chair - Place A Personalized Chair Message To Make A Meaningful Gift, Celebrate A Special Occasion And Help Support The FDR Park's Free 2024 Public Programs

According to the Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park:

This season, Four Freedoms Park Conservancy is offering you the chance to make visiting FDR Four Freedoms State Park even more special by “adopting” an Adirondack chair.

For a donation of $250 or more, you can personalize a bio-vinyl plaque. To dedicate a chair nestled amidst the Park’s breathtaking scenery as a meaningful gift for a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or to pay tribute to someone who has made a positive impact on your life. From May 15th to November 15, 2024, your own adopted Adirondack chair will provide park visitors with a place to relax and enjoy the Park’s peaceful setting and incredible views of Queens and Manhattan.

This thoughtful gesture supports the Park’s free public programs in 2024.

Ready to make your mark on the Park? Visit our website or call us at (212) 204-8831 to learn more about adopting a chair today!

*Requests for specific color Adirondack chairs will be honored as long as supply lasts.*

We look forward to welcoming you to the Park and sharing this unique opportunity with you.

Click here to adopt a FDR Four Freedoms Park Adirondack Chair.

More info about the FDR Four Freedoms Park available at its website and Instagram page.

RIOC Board Of Directors Meeting Wednesday April 3 - Roosevelt Island Residents Invited To Attend, Ask Questions And Share Concerns About Community Issues

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors 

will meet Wednesday, April 3 in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street) beginning at 5:30 PM.

You're invited to attend, ask questions and share concerns about Roosevelt Island during the opening Public Session before the start of the RIOC Board meeting. Sign up to speak here. 

 Here's the agenda for the meeting.

Board materials with supporting info for agenda items are here.

MTA Completes 63rd St Tunnel Rehab Project, Regular Roosevelt Island F Train Service Returns Today - MTA Bigwigs, RIOC Leadership & Cornell Tech Mascot Touchdown Greet Roosevelt Island F Train Riders At The Subway This Morning

Regular F train service for Roosevelt Island, as well as the Queensbridge/21 Street and Lexington/63rd Street, subway stations resumed today with completion this past weekend of the MTA's 63rd Street Tunnel Direct Fixation Project which started last August 28. 

To mark the occasion, MTA NYC Transit President Rich Davey together with MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp's (RIOC) Interim Leadership Team member Gerrald Ellis, Cornell Tech Dean Greg Morrisett 

and Cornell Mascot Touchdown greeted riders at the Roosevelt Island F train station this morning.

I spoke with Mr Davey and Mr Torres-Springer about the completion of 63rd Street Rehab Tunnel Project. According to Mr Torres-Springer:

We're always working on state of good repair across the system. It was important here that we rebuilt the track all the way from 63rd Street in Manhattan to Queensbridge in Queens. We rebuilt 25,000 feet of track. But in this case, in order to make sure that it was reliable for decades to come, we fully rebuilt it. We demolished what was there and we rebuilt the track, the third rail, the concrete foundation, the signals, all of it to make a more reliable ride for F Train riders.... The modern technology that we've used in the rebuild means that everyone will experience a smoother ride...

I asked Mr Davey about the breathing problems some riders experienced with dust in the air at the station. Mr Davey replied:

You wouldn't know it. We actually had our mobile wash team in here last night to clean up but because of the Piston effect of the train, some of the dust  in the tunnel itself was blown into the station so that'll subside relatively quickly. We'll have our wash teams back to do that but that's fairly common when you have such a complicated and large construction project.... we'll be out to clean it up and make sure that the stations are spic and span. 

I also spoke with Roosevelt Island resident Paul Krikler, who along with resident Matt Wald, played a key part in organizing and advocating for the Roosevelt Island community during the seven months of the 63rd Street Tunnel Rehab project.

Here's what they said.

Some comments about today's return of regular F Train service on Roosevelt Islander Instagram page:

• I really hope this means we will now have consistent regular full weekend service as well. Before this full shut down, it was the exception, not the norm, to have the train running in both directions on the weekends, and sometimes it wasn't running at all on the weekends.
• I am very proud that is running and grateful yet I am highly disappointed @rooseveltislandny @riocny @mta @nycmayor we could take a few hours to give the station a deep floor - steam cleaning and I say this respectfully. As a proud New Yorker, entering and breathing in the layers of debris this am was saddening . I would say I am sure volunteers like myself would mop and give it a good clean , however we do have the financial means to give it at least one grand opening mop ( remove some layers of durst everywhere) please take a moment to give our station a little CLEANING LOVE it would of been such a highlight to the grand opening
• I love that they’re standing there like they restored service with their own hands. Shout out to the construction workers who worked through the weekends for almost a year to end this travel nightmare.
• Thanks to the workers for making improvements that @rooseveltislander complains about and then you make those fixes but @rooseveltislander turns to complaining during the whole duration of the project!
• I was most excited to ride the F back from Manhattan today. I had just missed the last train and didn’t have to wait 20 minutes for the next one! It was great!

Channel 7 Eyewitness News reports:

From Roosevelt Island social media:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Weird R.I. (@weirdrooseveltisland)

NOT an April Fools joke! The F train has resumed normal operation btwn Queens & Manhattan, thanks to the successful completion of the 63rd St Track Project. A big shoutout to the hardworking team at the @MTA for making it happen.
You know it’s a big deal when Touchdown appears! pic.twitter.com/uvm3mS0VRU

— Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (@RIOCny) April 1, 2024

Touchdown visited Dean @GMorrisett at #CornellTech this morning to celebrate the Roosevelt Island #FTrain reopening! Thanks to President of @MTA Construction & Development @JTorresSpringer, President of @NYCTSubway Richard Davey & @RIOCny for making today a success! @Cornell pic.twitter.com/xzzPBxcR2o

— Cornell Tech (@cornell_tech) April 1, 2024

Here's what we accomplished:
🛤️Reconstructed new concrete roadbed and tracks.
⚡️Installed 25k feet of new third rail.
🚦Replaced cables, installed new signals, and more!

This work will ensure reliable service on the 63 St line for decades.

— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) April 1, 2024

After reporting on the resumption of F train service, I got ON one at Roosevelt Island….and promptly got stuck when “emergency brakes were activated.” The conductor shut power and train simply SAT. When it resumed didn’t sound right pulling into 57th. @nyctsubway @mta #NBC4NY pic.twitter.com/7od4Lnd09N

— Andrew Siff (@andrewsiff4NY) April 1, 2024

It's Begun, Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossoms Starting To Bloom All Over - Let's Go For A Virtual Walk To See And Enjoy

The 2024 Cherry Blossoms have started to bloom at various spots on Roosevelt Island. Let's go for a virtual walk and enjoy the Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossoms seen today.