Maybe I should’ve inserted “Maybe” somewhere in the Mass Transit From Hell because, although we can lay it out for you, avoiding it may prove impossible. Roosevelt Islanders wrestle big and little behemoths when it comes to mass transit, both afflicted with EADD – Elbow from Ass Distinction Disorder.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
The Twin Troubles of Mass Transit for Roosevelt Island
To be fair, even though they differ in size, RIOC as well as the MTA are equal in both incompetence and indifference when it comes to Roosevelt Island.
But let’s start with the F Train first. Not only will the MTA reroute Fs away from Roosevelt Island, they do it in different directions on Saturday and Sunday. Try keeping track.
Starting on Friday evening at 9:45 p.m., Manhattan-bound Fs will bypass Roosevelt Island until 10:00 p.m. on Saturday. The MTA Solution: “…take the F to 47-50 Sts and transfer to a Jamaica-bound F.” But if the F is not running to “47-50 Sts” – That’s Rockefeller Center in English. – how can you?
In the real world where you and I live, your best bets are the Tram – if you can get on – or a Q102 bus to Queens Plaza. Both let you off near multiple subway lines. Be mindful, though, there is only one MetroCard machine working on the Island. It’s in the subway station.
You can use OMNY or an enabled credit card on the buses.
But 24-hours later…
Starting at 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, Queens-bound F Trains will be rerouted away from Roosevelt Island until 5:00 a.m. on Monday. Between 10:00 and 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, who the hell knows?
The MTA solution is as wise as the day before: “…take the F to Roosevelt Av and transfer to a Coney Island-bound F.” How you get to an F that doesn’t run through the Island Station is up to you.
The Thickheaded – Coldhearted RIOC Tram Shutdown is Unchanged
Back in the old days when RIOC execs had 3-digit IQs and warm blood in their veins, they’d step up when things like this happened. But nostalgia won’t help. There is no sign that RIOC cares about the pending chaos or even knows about it.
Like a child with a fascinating new toy that broke, the state agency that never gets it wrong keeps regurgitating the same unedited email blasts telling you about the Tram shutdown. The gusty wind of complacent indifference from Governor Kathy Hochul’s crew makes clear that, with only a single Tram cabin running, they couldn’t care less about what happens to you over the weekend.
Weekend crowds of tourists will mix with residents in lines and in cramped platforms and cabins. RIOC execs will be home, and this will not affect them. So, what’re you grumbling about? PS: According to RIOC, the elevators don’t work either.
With extremely limited Tram and subway service, MTA buses to Queens Plaza may be your best option for connecting with mass transit.
NYC Ferry? A rarity, NYC Ferry shows signs of caring about passengers, but you should be aware that their summer schedules begin belatedly on Saturday. See them all here. The ferries get full quickly on weekends. Arrive early, be nice and enjoy the ride.
Finally…
There’s always a chance that RIOC might wake up and pitch in some help or Donald Trump might become a caring philanthropist, but I wouldn’t set my hopes high. A mass transit weekend from hell looks inevitable, but the tips above may help you dodge the worst of it.
Good luck!
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