After over five years and millions of dollars spent, both of the new Tram elevators were operating yesterday afternoon. As recently as Monday, neither was working and one never had been. But in spite of media reports and their own promises, RIOC has been silent.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
New Tram Elevators, Same Old RIOC
RIOC struggled with construction issues for more than five years, spending an astonishing $6.1 million, but then ignored the finished product. With the state agency under Governor Kathy Hochul operating like a leaderless assembly of independent parts, the much awaited completion limped quietly past.
Then, on Monday morning, visibility increased because, with neither elevator working, disabled, moms with strollers and others with heavy packages were left stranded. But no alert came out of RIOC.
One elevator went back in service by late afternoon, but the state agency that never gets it wrong missed that, too. And on Wednesday, with the second elevator working for the first time, they apparently didn’t know.
Is It Working?
After seeing the second elevator taking passengers up and down for the first time at around 3:00 yesterday, we checked back an hour later. It was stalled on the upper level, but there were no signs. And its call button was working.
On the Tram, we asked a RIOC Public Safety Officer if both elevators were now in service. He shrugged. He didn’t know.
So, we asked the Tram operator – not a RIOC employee and in no way responsible for the elevators. Both were working, he said.
“But the new one looks like it’s stuck on the upper level…?”
That stumped both. But don’t blame them. When there is no leadership giving directions, updating information, everyone’s freelancing, trying to do their best with what they have.
No word from Hochul’s Albany based team responsible for ordering around her twenty or so six-figure executives. The result, essentially, is that you are all on your own because nobody is in charge.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
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- J and M Train Weekend Service Changes: What Riders Need to KnowJ and M train weekend service changes will impact riders for five weekends as crews replace elevated track switches. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare for modified schedules across Brooklyn and Queens.
- Coastal Flooding Disrupts Southeast Queens Streets and TransitCoastal flooding disrupted streets and transit across Southeast Queens as a fall nor’easter brought heavy rain and renewed calls for resilience and improved drainage.
- Nor’easter Brings Slow Streets and Transit Delays Across Queens and NYCAfter the nor’easter, slow streets and transit delays across Queens and NYC greeted commuters. Utility crews continued repairs as normal routines resumed Monday.
You Can’t Be All Three
April 9, 2026, during the full board meeting of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, Fay Christian said something that should have landed harder than it did. She wished RIOC were not responsible for the tram. Then she asked what it would look like if it were given to the MTA. That was not a passing comment.
