In October, in The Daily, readers registered their opinions in a new Tram Poll. Unexpectedly during the voting period, multiple incidents of cabins swinging out of control occurred while RIOC and partner, Leitner-POMA, issued assurances that the Tram was safe. Also during this period, there was an unexpected, never well-explained 6-hour shutdown.

by David Stone

The Roosevelt Island Daily News

We gave voters five choices, starting at the top with excellence and bottoming out with a despairing plea for help. When it came time to tally up the results, opinions were clear.

Our readers overwhelmingly dislike the Tram experience as it now stands. Not one voter rated the experience as excellent.

The Tram Poll Results

• It’s great………0%
• I can handle it….. 5.5%
• Not thrilled……5.7%
• Overcrowded…...31.4%
• Help!……..54.2%

Just a few years ago, the greatest concern among Tram users was whether enough was being done about face mask compliance. The results shown above were unimaginable at that time.

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Overcrowding, rudeness and safety concerns play a role, but the lack of any sense of any commitment to improvements by RIOC may, in the fuller picture, be more critical.

We don’t see any signs of change while the current Hochul/Haynes remains intact.

Old RIOC, New Lawyer

Melissa Wade called the General Counsel process “textbook old school RIOC behavior.” President Jones now has to show whether the Board governed or merely approved.

Theo Gobblevelt May 22, 2026

President Jones has become better at saying RIOC cares.

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