The thing about the Tram troubles Roosevelt Islanders go through now is that they are neither new nor unpredictable. The table was set over three years ago when RIOC decided that “marketing and branding” made sense for generating more income. That meant, of course, investing in social media campaigns encouraging Tram ridership. It worked. The other thing is – change is unlikely.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
A post on the Roosevelt Islander blog last evening focused on the most current Tram troubles. With service restricted to a single cabin, residents competed with tourists for space as cabins opened their doors on the platform.
There was pushing and shoving and even reports of an older rider nearly shoved to the floor. These are things Roosevelt Islanders should be used to by now. They are not going away for a few reasons…
- RIOC wants the money. Balancing their annual budget leans into huge ridership increases.
- The Tram as a cheap thrill ride for tourists is now deeply ingrained in social media. My Roosevelt Island alerts every day show fresh videos on TikTok, Instagram, etc.
- Leitner-POMA, the Trams contracted operator, is indifferent to resident needs, and RIOC exercises little or no control over them.
“It’s important for us to continue to encourage tram travelers to be courteous to their fellow riders and to the PSD officers on site who are doing their best to keep things safe and orderly,” RIOC Communications Director Bryant Daniels told the Roosevelt Islander.
It’s good advice.
But from another point of view…
It remains incomprehensible to me that RIOC still refuses to arrange ANY BUS SERVICE of any kind during this horrible month between Roosevelt Island and Manhattan. Between the hours of 10 a.m. and at least 4 p.m., 7 days a week, that at least could be used by the residents of all abilities and ages, who really would appreciate it.
A better job of controlling access to the platform and turnstile to prevent this epic crowding is still beyond PSD’s & POMA’s skill set.
A longtime Roosevelt Island observer.
A video posted by the Roosevelt Islander shows Public Safety Officers, guided by Deputy Chief Anthony Amoroso, at work:
Amoroso was also photographed escorting a vulnerable couple to seats in a cabin.
Tram Troubles
While it’s true that RIOC played a major role in the mess managed today, it’s also true that they can’t unring that bell.
Interim leadership with just a couple of months in command – and with limited authority – deals with three years of poor management. Even with the increased ridership, the Tram loses money every month, but there are openings for improvement.
First, the MTA still steals over $100,000 every month in revenues from Tram ridership, and after four plus years of struggle, we know that RIOC lacks the chops for facing off against the transit giant. Governor Hochul manages both and can change the narrative in a minute.
She’s refused so far, and while elected officials, especially State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and City Council Member Julie Menin, have tried, they’ve not budged Hochul or the MTA.
Secondly, the Leitner-POMA contract is running out. With RIOC’s ineffective General Counsel Gretchen Robinson now out of the picture, a better deal is at hand. Currently, Leitner-POMA’s deal guarantees money losses straight out of the gate.
Considering the mediocre performance and indifference to safety, that’s unacceptable.
Finally…
Summer’s coming. By then, the Tram troubles we see now will look trivial. There’s no stopping it.
But more effective management and crowd control can help. PSD’s efforts now appear ad hoc, decisions made on the fly. RIOC must map out a plan for crowd control, but that’s not enough.
Whatever they do, it will not be enough unless the plan guarantees Roosevelt Islanders primary access, ahead of anyone else, to the transportation source they pay for. The Tram was built and paid for by them with a boost from Albany.
The peaceful Tram locals loved for so long is over. It’s a fact, but it can be better. Roosevelt Islanders should not be forced to compete with Nebraskans and Berliners for space in any cabin.
Find a way, RIOC. Find a way, elected officials. Let’s go.
When Representation Was the Promise
There was a time when representation felt like the answer.
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