A partial Tram shutdown is in the works, starting in the next couple of weeks. RIOC’s barely present president/CEO Shelton J. Haynes told the board, last week, but did not see informing the community as necessary.

By David Stone

The Roosevelt Island Daily News

A Partial Tram Shutdown

Reading – mumbling, really – from a prepared PowerPoint, Haynes said the Tram shutdown would start in a couple weeks, but this prompted a rescue. CFO John O’Reilly interrupted, jumping into the Zoom meeting, reminding the absentminded, $200K per year executive that the shutdown would be partial. Only one cabin at a time will be out of service.

Haynes then mumbled something about “three weeks.” But O’Reilly did not rescue him, this time. So, two weeks, three weeks, who cares when you drive to work and have your own private parking area?

The RIOC CEO also mumbled something about working with other forms of transit, buses, etc., but was no more clear than usual. That is, he didn’t really say anything and the board of enablers nodded cheerfully.

As of now, we don’t know a lot because, although a full week passed, RIOC’s alleged Communications Team has not released details. Public Information Officer Amy Smith attended the meeting.

Watch for further information, which we will share when they emerge from behind RIOC’s bunker.

More from the Roosevelt Island Daily

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  Tuesday’s PSD blotter: noise calls, a harassment reportNovember 11, 2026
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  Queens Public Library Ransomware Attack: Digital Services Still DisruptedNovember 11, 2026
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  A new RIOC appeals officer denied records on how its general counsel was hiredNovember 10, 2026
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• 
  Monday’s PSD blotter: two hospital transports, two disputesNovember 10, 2026
  RIOC’s Nov. 9 PSD blotter lists 14 incidents, including four aided calls with two hospital transports and a verbal dispute at 750 Main Street that drew FDNY.

Ten Years, or Another Temporary Fix?

The ten-year lease extension gives RIOC a rare chance to replace short-term deals with a financial system designed to outlast the people approving them.

Theo Gobblevelt Aug 7, 2026

Roosevelt Island was built through public investment, then expected to support itself through development. The ten-year lease extension gives RIOC a rare chance to replace short-term deals with a financial system designed to outlast the people approving them.

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