As reported many times
over the last several years, there is no issue which has decreased the quality
of life and angered more Roosevelt Island residents than the long lines,
overcrowding and unsafe platforms conditions caused by tourists using the
Roosevelt Island Tram as a sightseeing amusement attraction to view the NYC
East River waterfront and skyline.
However, according to an
opinion drafted
by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) legal department, a residents/workers Tram boarding preference would be
illegal.
Can a solution be found that overcomes RIOC's purported legal obstacle for
providing priority Roosevelt Island Tram boarding to those who use the Tram
for essential transportation purposes before those using the Tram as an
amusement sightseeing attraction?
How about this?
RIOC sets up a permitting system to issue an annual Roosevelt Island Fast Line
Pass that is available to everyone, resident, worker or visitor. The Fast Line
Pass must be picked up in person on Roosevelt Island at least 24 hours before
it can be used.
The Fast Line Pass allows the holder to board the Tram before a person who
does not have a Fast Line Pass. A person who only rides the Tram as a one time
sightseeing attraction is less likely to obtain the Fast Line Pass than a
regular user of the Tram.
Logistics would need to be figured out for how the Fast Line Pass would work
in practice, but the bottom line is that Roosevelt Island residents, workers
and anyone else who uses the Roosevelt Island Tram for transportation purposes
will have priority boarding over those using it for one time sightseeing
amusement attraction.
NYC Mayor Eric Adam, former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Assembly Member
Rebecca Seawright and NYC Council Member Julie Menin have all expressed support for providing some sort of Roosevelt Island Tram boarding preference for
residents and workers.
This fills a longstanding need, and thanks to all the leaders who pulled it together. For balance now, we need resident leadership to come up with something similar. RIRA is a wreck waiting for...
Jesus Christ. Give it up. The priority boarding is not going to happen. If the line is too long, take the subway. It's not that far from the tram station on either end of the trip.
The protections from Public Safety for tram safety diminish the man hours of protection that Roosevelt Islanders pay for to protect us right here in our community. While It's necessary,...
It good idea but need to think about a limit number of passes per person or some other control to stop people trying to grab multiples for sale. Also have to think where/when do you get the daily...
There is no extra fee for the annual Fast Line Pass. The idea is the same thing as what your are calling Priority Boarding. The idea that is different is that anyone (residents/workers/visitors)...
Re. the 8:30 update: The Roosevelt Landings Residents Association determined that at least 22 heater sparkings and fires had taken place in our building in recent months. I personally experienced 3...
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.