Effective at 6:00 p.m Today, February 17th, RIOC’s issued changes for parking across Roosevelt Island. We took a look at ’em. They’re somewhat illiterate and ignorant about the Island, and so, explaining in plain English made sense.
Parking during the winter storm…
Simply put, street parking north of the Tram is suspended. You can, however park on Main Street where it loops around Cornell Tech, and you can ignore the meters. RIOC refers to this as “campus parking,” but as anyone who’s ever lived here knows, there’s no parking anywhere inside Cornell Tech.
Alternatives
Because Motorgate’s expected to get jammed under the storm conditions, RIOC’s opening a couple alternatives. Neither have established traffic patterns, though; so, beware you don’t get boxed and/or plowed in. Note: Only monthly parkers allowed into Motorgate for now.
- The area under the Roosevelt Island Bridge helix is open, but the space is limited. Best entry point is from the East Promenade. Get there by taking either of two unmarked side roads paralleling Capobianco Field.
- Coler Specialty Hospital’s now lightly used parking lot behind the main building is open. It’s a little remote, but catch a red bus back to civilization at the Octagon. There’s a shelter.
RIOC hopes to keep red buses and the Tram operating throughout, and with the storm less intense than last weekend’s, they’ll have an easier time of it.
Finally, RIOC always promises they’ll follow up when the restrictions are lifted. But they often don’t. It’s just boilerplate, and you’re usually on your own, guessing when it’s safe again.
Offices closed too
RIOC also closed…
- All RIOC administrative offices
- The Roosevelt Island Youth Center
- The Cultural Center
- Good Shepherd Community Center
Nothing else announced any closings, not even the schools, but so few people are showing up for work at RIOC, these days, it’ll have limited effect.
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