When the coastal snowstorm swept into New York City, winds and snow buffeting Roosevelt Island, the forecasters had it about right. Snow fell overnight, and wind chills dropped below zero. But the community barely stumbled.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Well before daybreak, crews were out, clearing streets and sidewalks before the more powerful bands of snow came through. They kept at it all day, and at least on Roosevelt Island, the impact was small.
RIOC‘s crews were busy. For those of us needing to get out early, Main Street sidewalks were cleared, even as winds kept blowing in fresh snow.
Rare inactivity at the center of town, Good Shepherd Plaza.
The Roosevelt Island Tram Plaza. If you had to get somewhere, the cabins ran on time, cutting through the coastal snowstorm.
Even before the heaviest snow fell during midday, isolated drifts reached a foot and a half.
The subways ran too, and paths were cleared through at the entrance and bus stop.
High winds swept Riverwalk Commons clear, but Red Buses kept their rounds, on time.
An aerial view, East Main Street just before the the coastal storm sent the heaviest, windiest blasts through.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily
- A Week of Shifts: News, Weather, and Community Reminders for Roosevelt IslandA week of shifts in news, weather, and community reminders for Roosevelt Island, from Memorial Day weather to local stories and citywide headlines.
- Roosevelt Island Community News: Neighbor Stories, Local Events, and Civic ConnectionsStay updated on Roosevelt Island community news with neighbor stories, local events, civic history, and the ways citywide efforts connect our daily lives.
- A Week Around Roosevelt Island: Community Threads and Local NewsCatch up on a week around Roosevelt Island and nearby neighbors: from NY-7 politics and Sunnyside Yard to local governance, events, and city headlines.
- Building Community Connections on Roosevelt Island and Nearby NeighborhoodsExplore how building community connections on Roosevelt Island and nearby neighborhoods shapes everyday life, from transit shifts to civic efforts and local arts.
- Community Rhythms and Neighborhood Steadiness on Roosevelt IslandExplore community rhythms and neighborhood steadiness on Roosevelt Island, from public safety updates to art, weather, and the everyday connections that keep island life vibrant.
The Line That Didn’t Land
I stood in the back of Good Shepherd Chapel on the evening of April 15, 2026, at the Steam Plant Demolition Town Hall, watching people adjust scarves and jackets before the meeting began. Benjamin Jones, President and CEO of RIOC, thanked us for attending and, without a pause, said he was “pleased to host tonight’s town hall on the city’s demolition of its steam plant.” The demolition, in other words, was not up for discussion.
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