Roosevelt Island Manhattan Tram Station Platform Capacity Will Be Reduced From Normal 100 To 50 Riders For Safety Precautions When Line Reaches Down The Stairs Says RIOC PSD Chief During Community Engagement Meeting Last Tuesday - Chief Emphasizes The Tram Is Not A Ride
During the January 15, 2025 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department (PSD) Community Engagement meeting, a Roosevelt Island resident raised the issue of dangerous overcrowding on the Roosevelt Island Tram station platforms
...once those 50 get on to the tram, people have to wait minute or two more. Then we'll send the other 50 up the stairs through and then we'll load the tram up to its capacity and then it will go across. So it's not that we lessen the number on the ride it's just lessen the number on the platform to give people a little bit more space....
... We haven't had a line at the Tram since January 3rd and we're going to continue to track it. Like I said, it's not an exact science. So what happens when a line forms? There is usually either an officer or attendant there so for that first 5 to 10 minutes it may be crowded because it takes about 10 minutes for me to get three Officers over to the Manhattan side...
The Manhattan Community Board 8 voted last night to approve a resolution supporting Roosevelt Island Tram boarding priority for NYC residents. The Community Board has no power to implement such a policy but it's support may be helpful in persuading RIOC and the Governor to do so.