... the Assembly Member is currently busy in Albany with session and
preparing for budget hearings as a member of the Ways and Means Committee.
Our office is currently in communication with the Governor's office. We were
informed of a couple of promising updates. We continue to press for clarity
surrounding the request for priority boarding and a waiver.
First additional swing dampeners will be installed to enable the Tram to
increase its speed resulting in more trips per hour. Second, Poma, which is
the tram contractor, has agreed to install the radio frequency system by
quarter 3 which is the summer as opposed to quarter 4 which would have been
December 2025. We're pushing for it to be moved up even further now as well.
We remain we remain supportive of the priority boarding resolution as
proposed by CB 8 to include priority for New Yorkers.
Several Roosevelt Island parents spoke seeking support for increasing the
number of 3k seats on Roosevelt Island. According to one parent:
... we understand the Roosevelt Island Day Nursery continues to write to whichever planning committee is responsible for allocating funds for 3K. They have the capacity to offer more spots and they have made that known to the Department of Education but they have not received approval to formally expand. Some of the parents have gotten together and we've got a petition and letter writing campaign...
February 18 Lecture program,
When Manhattan Was Dutch,
at the Roosevelt Island Public Library. Ms Berdy adds that the RIHS programs
at the Library are:
... a great way to meet your neighbors, to find out stuff about the island, to
find out stuff about history and we're always glad to answer some of those
innumerable questions that newcomers have to the Island...
According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Monday, February 3, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. at the RIOC’s Operations Office, 680 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York 10044.
AGENDA:
1. Discussion of Eleanor’s Pier next steps
2. Update on Roadways status
3. Discussion of the Southtown Building 8 lease amendment
4. Any Other Committee Business that May be Brought Before the Committee.
The Community Board 8 (CB 8) Roosevelt Island (RI) and Transportation Committees held a very informative joint meeting via Zoom last evening hosted by RI Committee Chair Paul Krikler. Here's a brief summary.
The meeting began with Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Communications Director Bryant Daniels reporting:
One of the 2 new Red Buses will be in service later this week and the second bus in service not long afterwards,
Due to the long lines at the Roosevelt Island Tram, Public Safety Officers will be stationed at the Roosevelt Island station during the morning rush hours and at the Manhattan Station during the evening rush hour.
RIOC is going to work to reduce the number of people standing on the Tram Platform,
Priority Seating Signage for older adults and disabled people will be placed on the windows above the seats in both Tram Cabin
RIOC is testing faster speeds for the Tram schedule. Approval by Department of Labor is necessary before any changes to the Tram speed can be made.
Skip Hartman of The Roosevelt Island Business Alliance (TRIBA) spoke about the mission of the group including:
Working on an extension of the Master Lease between NY State and NY City
Developing and funding a new visitors app
Holding an awards dinner honoring community members and
Raising and donating funds to local Roosevelt Island groups
And a robust discussion about a resolution to approve resident and workers boarding priority on the Roosevelt Island Tram. The resolution passed by a vote of 4 to 1 and will be voted on by the full Community Board 8 at the January 15 meeting.
According to CB 8 Roosevelt Island Committee Chair Paul Krikler:
Please join us for the next CB8RI meeting this coming Monday (1/6) at
630pm on Zoom. In addition to our usual updates (RIOC, Library and
Community) we will be joined by Skip Hartman to tell us about The
Roosevelt Island Business Alliance (TRBA).
We will also be discussing a resolution regarding priority boarding of the
tram
(see link to resolution).
Resolutions are discussed at Committee first and then taken to the Full
Board (Jan 15)
2411 people have signed the Trampled By Tourists, Priority Boarding for
Residents and Workers on the Roosevelt Island Tram
petition.
Stickers have been created to show support for Roosevelt Island residents and workers Tram Boarding
priority.
Supporters are encouraged to:
Stick them around the Tram Station to raise awareness and remind tourists to
prioritize locals.
The Stickers are available at Island Discount store (563 Main Street) until
tomorrow evening.
Here's a July 2023 interview with three of the founding Directors of the The
Roosevelt Island Business Alliance, Skip Hartman of the
Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, David Kramer of the
Hudson Companies
and Frank (Turtle) Raffaele of
The Sanctuary.
The abrupt decrease recently introduced to the Roosevelt Island Tramway
services are gravely affecting the residents of our island. As many New
Yorkers know the beautiful views of the skyline have introduced more tourists
to the tram as social media has created an explosion of interest in recent
years. Decreasing service at this time has put enormous strain to an already
stressful and taxing commute. The tram now runs slower and at a decreased
frequency during rush hour and weekends when it’s at its highest capacity of
commuters and tourists.
The unilateral decisions made by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation,
seemingly in response to a New York Post article, have disrupted the life of
everyday individuals rather than being driven by genuine resident
complaints.
Consequently, at a time when our bus services are stalling due to mechanical
breakdowns, these ill-considered alterations have only compounded transport
issues within our community. Impacting students, full-time employees, and in
particular those trying to navigate during rush hour, the inconvenience and
hardship caused are substantial.
Furthermore, the failure to consider synchronicity with the bus schedules
when they are operational, and the lack of posted schedules for these new
tram services, only intensify the issue at hand. This must be addressed.
It's vital to remember that public transport is a right, not merely a
service - this dispute is not just about trams, but ensuring available and
fair transportation for all.
The voice of the islanders deserves to be heard and respected. Demand that
the tram changes are reversed, and that any future amendments are made in
collaboration with those who bear the impact. Sign the petition.
Ms Benson and several other residents spoke at the October 22 RIOC Board
Meeting Public Session about the Roosevelt Island Tram problems referenced in
the Petition. Also, a representative from the Tram operator, Poma-Leitner,
spoke about the problems. He explained that the NY State Department of Labor mandated the Tram
speed slowdown in order to reduce the instances of sudden Tram stoppages
causing the cabin
to swing back and forth in mid air.
Watch the full 30 minute discussion at beginning of this video.
A Roosevelt Island senior reported the following and I confirmed with RIOC
Public Safety Chief Kevin Brown and Deputy Chief Anthony Amoroso that it is
accurate:
Fellow Roosevelt Islanders: Please be reminded: Seniors and Disabled have
PRIORITY, and MAY board trams FIRST. Here's how:
1. Put your MetroCard through the reader at the gate, swing turnstile around
so no one else can enter on your card,(or in Manhattan, you can put the card
in the reader by the gate, near the Tram overseer stall),
2. Then go to the DISEMBARKATION side of whichever tram car you're waiting
for.
3. When the incoming tram riders are done disembarking that car, the Tram
operator will let you on before he/she opens the doors for regular boarding.
RIOC/TRAM employees know this is the method devised to help older and/or
mobility challenged residents, but
4. RIOC NOW needs to now consider this boarding method for ALL regular
residents as well, and THEN,
5. board the tourists after we residents have all gotten on. And, if
necessary, there should be adequate staff available to make sure this
happens in an orderly fashion.”
I asked Chief Brown and Deputy Chief Amoroso if this boarding preference would be available to all residents and workers. They answered no.
Also, be advised that several Roosevelt Island
seniors and disabled residents have reported that some Tram employees are not aware of RIOC's Tram boarding preference for Seniors and Disabled residents policy and did not allow them priority boarding.
The Full Board of CB8 is meeting at Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island on
October 23rd, starting at 630 pm. The meeting is hybrid, in person and zoom
for members of the public.
We will be voting on a resolution to support Council Member
Julie Menin’s resolution in support of direct elections for Directors of RIOC. CM Menin will be speaking near
the start of the meeting.
Come and speak out in favor of this. Members of the public get to speak at
the start of the meeting but you have to sign up ahead of time to speak.
You can sign up here.
... calling on the New York State Legislature and Governor to amend the New York State Public Authorities Law by granting residents of Roosevelt Island the power to vote for members of the board of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.
City Meetings NYC website has the video and transcript of testimony by Roosevelt Island residents to the September 19, 2024 meeting of the NYC Council Committee on Governmental Operations, State and Federal Legislation in support of Ms Menin's resolution.
Paul Krikler, a resident of Roosevelt Island, testifies in support of Resolution 132, which calls for direct election of Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) board members. He represents 1,100 petition signatories seeking democratic governance on the island.
Emphasizes the significant proportion of Roosevelt Island residents (out of 12,000) who support this initiative
Highlights the need for better oversight and community involvement in island management
Mentions historical issues between RIOC and residents, with the current board failing to provide adequate oversight
Margie Smith, a long-time resident of Roosevelt Island and former RIOC Board Director, testifies in support of Resolution 132, which calls for granting Roosevelt Island residents the power to vote for members of the RIOC board. She emphasizes the lack of democratic representation in the island's governance and the unique challenges faced by its residents.
Smith highlights the contradiction of Roosevelt Island residents voting for city officials who don't have authority over their island, while being unable to vote for the RIOC board that makes key decisions.
She points out the financial burden on Roosevelt Island residents, who pay ground rent and taxes but have no say in how the money is spent on island maintenance and services.
Smith urges the City Council to support the resolution, while acknowledging their limited authority to enact change directly.
Joyce Short, a long-time Roosevelt Island resident, testifies in support of Resolution 132, which calls for granting Roosevelt Island residents the power to elect members of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) board. She argues that the current appointment system for RIOC board members is undemocratic and violates the principles of republican government.
Short emphasizes that Roosevelt Island is leased by New York City to the state, and as the "landlord," the city should intervene to address the governance issues.
She highlights the ineffectiveness of community referendums in influencing board appointments, with only one out of five referendums resulting in actual appointments.
Short expresses concerns about RIOC's focus on maintaining a crime-free image for real estate purposes, potentially at the expense of properly addressing crime on the island.
Penina Gold, a resident of Roosevelt Island, testified in support of Resolution 132-2024, which calls for allowing Roosevelt Island residents to vote for members of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) board. She emphasized the lack of democratic representation in the island's governance and the need for accountability.
Gold highlighted that Roosevelt Island residents can vote in general NYC elections but have no say in selecting RIOC leadership.
She stressed that RIOC, which manages most aspects of life on Roosevelt Island, is not accountable to its residents.
Gold urged all council members to support the resolution and called on state legislators and the governor to pass and sign the proposed law.
But be aware that Community Board 8 and NYC Council have no power to implement RIOC Board elections which is under the jurisdiction of NY State although passing the resolution could have a degree of persuasive authority on the issue with NY State decision makers.
Community Board 8
(CB 8) Roosevelt Island Committee
Chair Paul Krikler hosted a very informative Zoom meeting discussion on Monday
October 7 with Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Communications Department Director Bryant Daniels. Among the topics discussed
were:
Slowing down the Tram cabin speed and decreasing number of hourly trips to
reduce swinging Tram Problem,
Red Bus Service shortage,
Reports of animals being exposed to toxins and
Upcoming October 26 Hallowen Parade.
There was also a very interesting presentation by representatives of
Rise Light & Power about the redevelopment plan for transitioning their Long Island City
Ravenwood Power Plant from fossil fuels to
renewable energy transmission.
As reported previously, due to longstanding maintenance problems, only 1 or 2 of the 5 Roosevelt Island Red Buses have been in service since last June. Even the NY Post reported on the isssue.
Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Communications Department Director Bryant Daniels reported during the September 8 Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island committee virtual meeting that there are now 4 Red Buses
... We're in better shape today than we were a few weeks ago. There's been a lot of behind the scenes maneuvering within RIOC to try to get us into a better position.
We've been very upfront about this. This was a problem that is many years in the making. It just took a long time. Eventually the bill comes due and it did recently with the Red Bus fleet.
Unfortunately we don't have enough buses and that sort of leads into a cascading array of problems with doing enough preventive maintenance and making sure you're still getting service out on the roads.
But in the last couple weeks, and I want to point out a special thank you to our government officials particularly State Senator Liz Krueger who reached out to MTA chair Janno Lieber on our behalf, who then got the New York City Transit guys involved and they have been a tremendous asset to us in getting our Fleet back up and running the last few weeks.
So right now we are back up to a healthy four red buses on the island and we've also added a new bird bus shorter 14 seater with room for two wheelchairs that's also going to be around the island these days....
Here's Mr Daniels discussing the Red Bus as well as other Roosevelt Island issues during lasts night's CB 8 Roosevelt Island committee meeting.
There was also a discussion about motorbike confiscations, traffic and bike safety, upcoming events at the Roosevelt Island Public Library and The Citizens Project presentation of a new Roosevelt Island app
for residents and visitors currently in development.
Watch the whole video to see these issues discussed.
According to CB 8 Roosevelt Island Committee Chair Paul Krikler:
The next CB 8 RI Committee meeting will be on Monday September 9 on Zoom.
Come ask your question about the Red Bus and the Main Street surface
replacement. We will also have a presentation of The Citizen Project, which
Kaushal Shah and his team have been building for Roosevelt Island. The
meeting will be hosted by Jimmy Starance.
Manhattan Community Board 8 (CB8) Roosevelt Island Committee
Chair Paul Krikler moderated an interesting
Zoom meeting
last night with Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Communications Director Bryant Daniels, NY State Senator
Liz Krueger and NY
State Assembly Member
Rebecca Seawright
talking with residents about a variety of local issues. The meeting began with
Mr Daniels providing a RIOC update and answering questions on the:
RIOC interim leadership changes
- (Deputy General Counsel Gerrald Ellis left RIOC for a job in the private
sector. Acting Chief Operating Officer Mary Cunneen and Associate General
Counsel Lada Stasko will join Chief Financial Officer Dhru Dhruvika on the
interim leadership team),
Red Bus service outages
- Of the 4 Red Buses, 2 buses are currently working on Main Street. 1 Red
Bus is out of service and is expected to be back in service this week
which will restore Octagon Bus Service. The 4th Bus is out of service for
maintenance and no date yet for when it will be fixed. 2 new Red
Buses are on order.
Red Bus Real Time Schedule Tracking service will be working soon and
integrated in
NY Transit app
as well as the soon to launch Roosevelt Island
Citizens Project platform.
Weekend Volleyball Players
at Firefighters Field taking over entire area with no room for others to
use the field - RIOC is aware of issue and will look more into it.
NY State Senator Krueger and Assembly Member Seawright then discussed Roosevelt
Island governance issues including:
According to Ms Krueger, any Governor is unlikely to give up the power to
appoint RIOC Directors by way of a direct election. Ms Seawight said that
Mayor Adams has agreed to use direct elections for appointment of the two
Mayoral appointments to the RIOC Board.
Governor Hochul has previously vetoed legislation requiring residency for
RIOC President and for resident
Board members who move away
from Roosevelt Island.
Watch the very interesting discussion on these issues.
CB 8 Roosevelt Island Committee meeting are scheduled for the first
Monday of every month except August. The
next meeting will be on September 9.
You're invited to attend, share your thoughts and ask questions.
COME TELL YOUR STATE ELECTED REPS YOU WANT A BIGGER SAY IN HOW RIOC IS RUN
The next CB8RI meeting is on July 1 at 630pm on Zoom.
We will be joined by State Senator Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright.
Our State elected representatives are the only ones who can help us with the imbalance of power many of us feel in dealing with RIOC.
Almost 1,100 people signed our petition demanding direct election of all Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) board members; this is a very significant number out of 12,000 residents. We need this for two reasons:
(i) Better oversight of RIOC
(ii) A bigger say in how things are done for the betterment of the community.
RIOC Communicaitons Director Bryan Daniels is also expected to attend and available to discuss Roosevelt Island issues.
The 35th anniversary of the Wengerd Family Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers
Market was honored last week with a high flying banner by the Roosevelt Island
Operating Corp (RIOC)
and a celebratory cake
at their Good Shepherd Plaza home last week.
Israel Wengerd, who first started working at the Roosevelt Island Farmers
Market as a youngster, and now runs the market said:
It's been 35 years of serving Roosevelt Island with fresh local homegrown
fruits and vegetables. The Roosevelt Island community is the best in New
York City.
I would like to say Thank You So Much to the Roosevelt Island residents who
put on the celebration last week. Thank you, especially to Judy Berdy for
coordinating the event.
... WHEREAS; The Wengerd Farmers Market has provided an invaluable addition
to life on Roosevelt Island over decades; and
WHEREAS; The Wengerd Farmers Market crew always leaves the market site
spotless at the end of the day;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Community Board 8 Manhattan relishes the
opportunity to thank Israel Wengerd, his family, the cashiers and all the
other staff for all the years of dedicated service to this community.
Here's the full CB8 resolution.
See you tomorrow at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market.
sent the following message to RIOC employees this afternoon.
To my fellow RIOC employees,
It is with mixed emotions that I write to you today to share some personal news. I have accepted a position as in-house counsel at an affordable housing developer here in NYC, and I will be leaving RIOC at the end of the month. My last day will be Friday, June 28th.
It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve in the interim leadership role since January and to be at least partially entrusted with the stewardship of the unique gem that is Roosevelt Island. Our work continues, both for this month while it remains ours together, and into the future once I am gone. I leave content, however, knowing that the work lies in good hands with you all, the incredible team who make this island function, who keep it clean and orderly, who come in day in and day out, rain or shine, to do your jobs and to make this island the beautiful, tranquil oasis it is.
I also leave content in the hope that I have left the island and our institution at least slightly better than when I first arrived. But even if that is true, it is you all that I must thank for it. The employees of RIOC are the backbone of this organization—from the Youth Center to PSD to the grounds crew to the maintenance staff to Sportspark, the bus fleet, and then all the administrative staff—it is you all who have kept the RIOC ship steady over these last few months and for that I am forever grateful.
And so, I thank you all for your efforts and I wish you all the best in life and your future endeavors. Roosevelt Island and the community here are better because of you and your work. Always remember that.
My best to you all,
Upon learning Mr Ellis was leaving RIOC, I asked him and the RIOC Board of Directors:
I understand that you are leaving RIOC at the end of the month.
First, thank you very much for your service to Roosevelt Island. I believe that over the last 6 months, you and the RIOC Interim Leadership team have done an outstanding job and you will be missed.
Does your departure have anything to do with the Haynes/Robinson lawsuit? Will either of them be returning to RIOC?
Who will be in charge of RIOC?
Is there any statement from the RIOC Board?
Any statement from Gerrald?
Will update when more information becomes available.
This morning, Mr Ellis spoke at the raising of the Roosevelt Island Pride Flag.
This evening Mr Ellis discussed an extension of the Roosevelt Island Master Ground Lease between New York City and State during the Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island committee meeting.
The departure of Mr Ellis from RIOC is big loss for Roosevelt Island. As part of the Interim Leadership team he has brought competency to RIOC management and real engagement with the Roosevelt Island community. The RIOC Board and NY State should try and persuade him to stay.
Stay tuned for more.
UPDATE 6/4 - RIOC Board Member Ben Fhala replies:
Of course, I will refrain from delving into the details due to the litigation and out of respect for Gerrald to narrate what he wants and can make public.
I was deeply saddened to hear that Gerrald decided to step down from the interim leadership position. Since the junior board members joined, he has been a welcoming figure in an incredibly hostile environment. Throughout our many long talks during this journey of reestablishing governance on this island, he was a voice of calm and reason. He worked behind the scenes to enable, inform, and support this new board's mission to create structures that support the incredibly important work we have been tasked with.
In the very first board meeting, he welcomed the new board members and urged us to reach out to him for any need, reminding us that he has fiduciary duties to us and will always be available. Not long after that meeting, the executive team set a directive to prevent open communications with the board members. Yet, at great personal risk, Gerald kept the dialogue with all board members who wished to remain informed.
He did his best to mediate between the senior board members and the junior board members, between the executive team and the board, and even between NY State Homes & Community Renewal (HCR), the Governor's Executive Chambers, and this board. His dedication and personal sacrifices throughout the last year have made him the most ideal candidate to assume the position of CEO. Unfortunately, due to reasons I cannot elaborate on, his nomination was blocked and delayed. Although he was appointed to the interim leadership team without the support required to operate fully, he helped bridge the gap that had formed between the community and the organization created to serve it. He is still working tirelessly to bridge the facets of this board and its oversight.
Simply put, this community and the resident board members will forever be in his debt for putting the needs of the public and this board ahead of all others. While the upcoming future remains unknown, his leadership and advocacy have left us in a much better place than we would have been. I will miss the topics we agreed on and the ones we had open heated debates over, and I know I made a friend for life.
Thanks,
Ben Fhala*
Junior (Resident) Board Member
*Disclaimer: All statements made by Ben Fhala are made in his capacity as a RIOC Resident Board member. He does not represent the entirety of RIOC or the full board but serves as a Resident Board member, offering information to the community and its stakeholders.
Mr Ellis began his presentation with a discussion of:
What It Takes To Run Roosevelt Island,
summarized in the slides below.
Mr Ellis noted that Roosevelt Island:
... is entirely self-financed—we do not receive any supportive
funding from the state.
The majority of our funding comes from our ground rent and commercial
leases.
Mr Ellis took comments and questions from Mr Krikler and other Roosevelt
Island residents.
I asked Mr Ellis:
What are the 3 or 4 most important things on your plate
right now?
Mr Ellis answered:
... That's a tough question. Obviously this interim situation is very
difficult.... There are all kinds of challenges that just flow from that
alone. That's at the top of my list .... There are certain hiring decisions that we cannot or should
not make while we're in this interim position. There are big projects that we
can't explore or don't want to explore while we're in in this position. Basic
day-to-day repairs we're obviously doing and they are big priorities for
us....
... The Master Lease discussions are a major priority right now... An
extension of the Master Lease. We have had conversations with the City of New
York about this but we can't really make progress on those discussions or on
that negotiation until we have more certainty internally about our own
governance structure, about our own direction. There are internal/external all
sorts of things that flow from that one issue that we we don't yet have
permanent leadership...
... We have our next board meeting on the 14th. Maybe there's going to be
some movement there. I'm optimistic but I don't know and I've learned not to
get ahead of myself in hoping or in predicting that anything might or
might not happen at a board meeting....
Mr Ellis also discussed problems with the Red Bus delays, overcrowding on
the Roosevelt Island Tram and expressed a willingness to explore models from other cities that are attempting to manage problems caused by tourist overcrowding.
He reported that in a few weeks there will be a
live traffic camera feed from both the Manhattan and Roosevelt Island Tram
stations available for residents to see how large those line are so you can
make a decision about using the Tram or the subway. Another improvement coming this summer is the Red Bus will have a location tracking system installed so that riders
will know when it will be at any stop.
Here's the full discussion from beginning to end. I highly recommend watching the entire video if you are interested in Roosevelt Island issues and governance.
Great job by Mr Krikler and Mr Ellis. This type of conversation and Roosevelt Island community engagement would not have happened under the prior RIOC administration.
The March 4
Community Board 8 (CB 8)
Roosevelt Island Committee
meeting, chaired by RI resident Paul Krikler, hosted a very informative
discussion on a variety of important Roosevelt Island topics.
The meeting began with an update by Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Communications Director Bryant Daniels and Chief Financial Officer Dhru
Amin on issues including:
New Interim RIOC Leadership Reset of Community Engagement and
Communications
Red Bus operations,
Z Brick street paving,
Good Shepherd Chapel elevator repair
and more.
Following the RIOC team, Roosevelt Island resident Kaushal Shah introduced
The Citizen Project, an initiative to leverage technology to provide solutions for the daily
needs of Roosevelt Island residents by building a web and mobile based
platform.
According to the CB 8 Roosevelt Island Committee March 4 meeting Agenda:
1. RIOC Update
2. Introducing The Citizen Project, whose aim is to leverage technology to better serve our community. The technology platform they are building is based on a community-driven, bottom-up approach, where RI residents are an integral part of designing and developing solutions to urban challenges.
A. The Citizen Project vision
B. Overview of the platform
C. Ways to get involved or stay informed
3. Creating Miyawaki Method Pocket Forest in Southpoint Park, Roosevelt Island (presented by iDig2Learn)
Old Business
New Business
residents and workers who currently use the Q 102 bus. The meeting will include
a presentation:
... by the MTA/NYC Transit on proposed bus route changes:
Queens Bus Redesign recommendation to replace the Q102 between S. Loop Rd.
and Queens Plaza with Q104 service between the Roosevelt Island "F" station
and Sunnyside via Broadway & 46th Street...
The proposed Q104 would be extended to serve Roosevelt Island at its western
terminal, replacing Q102 service, which would be discontinued. The Q104
would continue to serve Broadway and 48 St, maintaining its connection with
the 7 train. Most existing Q102 train connections would be maintained on the
proposed Q104. Existing Q102 service along E Loop Rd/W Loop Rd south of the
Roosevelt Island F train station would be discontinued. Existing Q102
service along 31 St would be replaced by the proposed Q105.
To match stop spacing on other Local routes, Q104 stops would be spaced
slightly further apart than existing to speed up buses and improve
reliability.
Both frequency and span would be increased to resemble Q102 service.
The
proposed Q104
will connect to the N and W trains at the 31st Street/Broadway subway station
which is handicapped accessible and connect to the M and R trains at the 48th
Street/Broadway subway station which is not. The Q104 will also connect to the
7 train at the 46th Street subway station which is handicapped accessible.
The proposed bus route will be a big change for Roosevelt Island residents and
workers who will no longer have access to the Queens Plaza/Queensboro Plaza
subway hubs via the
current Q102 bus
which will be eliminated under the proposed Queens Bus Network Redesign Plan.
But we will have better access to Socrates Sculpture Park and Costco on Vernon
B'lvd as well as the restaurants and attractions in Astoria.
Folks, representatives of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) will now
be attending our monthly CB8 RI meetings again starting tomorrow. This is a
very positive step following the announcement yesterday regarding management.
I encourage people to come along and share ideas, thoughts and concerns
especially regarding the Tram and Red Bus. The meeting is at 630pm and it is
on Zoom.
During today's RIOC Operations Advisory Committee meeting, RIOC Directors and
Staff discussed the possibility of shading the Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin
windows to discourage the long tram lines
Honestly, tourists, what brings you to Roosevelt Island? Our wide open
spaces? Our fine dining? Our breathtaking vistas, perhaps? Is it really
worth it? All you're doing is making our lives miserable by cramming the
tram while our subway service is on the fritz.
https://t.co/vx6DUCSoGJpic.twitter.com/WFShdWdkfp
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.
.jpg)
