Last evening, RIOC made it clear. They will not try anything new that might help residents on the worst transit day of the year. Appeals have been made, pleas about Roosevelt Island’s most vulnerable, but no, we’re still stuck in Rosenthal/Haynes mode. Is anyone listening?
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Worst Transit Day for Roosevelt Island
It probably couldn’t happen on a worse weekend. Take the holidays, for example. For Christians, it starts with Holy Saturday, the religious event bridging Good Friday and Easter. The last day of Holy Week, it’s the end of Lent, a day set aside for, among others, making Easter eggs and baskets and the Blessing of the Animals.
Lots of reasons to get out and enjoy, and then, there’s Easter. The value of getting easily to churches and family gatherings can’t be overestimated, but the state agency is unmoved.
“Still no hope for RIOC to figure out a better Red Bus to and from Manhattan for this weekend,” one resident writes. “3:00 to 7:00 p.m. remains stupid. 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or 11 am to 4 pm would be better for … wait for it … Roosevelt Islanders of many ages and abilities.”
And that’s only if there’s any rationale for a four-hour limit at all. RIOC has never offered one, but the Octagon runs day-long shuttles every weekend. Why can’t RIOC? They can afford at least $40,000 per month for sidelined executives; so, money is no excuse.
Transit Bedlam
Even without Easter Weekend pressing the issue, we have cherry blossoms bursting free all over Roosevelt Island. People want to come over and see them, but all subway service ends on Friday night.
This leaves a heavy weight on the Roosevelt Island Tram, already perilously overcrowded on weekday afternoons.
Probably the worst of it is RIOC’s naked lack of concern for residents already crowded out of access to the Tram, worried about undiscussed safety conditions or sickened by shaking and wobbling over the towers.
RIOC’s Offer for the Worst Transit Weekend This Year, Maybe Ever
Without apologies, RIOC has regurgitated policies first laid out under then-President/CEO Susan Rosenthal, circa 2018. They were inadequate then but much worse now with the confluence of events and the vast increase in tourist traffic.
“Red Bus Manhattan Shuttle: RIOC will once again run a Red Bus Shuttle to Manhattan on Saturday March 30th and Sunday March 31st from 3:00pm – 7:30pm. The shuttle leaves from the Tram Station at the top of every hour and picks up returning riders from the Southwest side of 2nd Avenue, between 58th Street and 59th Street, on the half hour.
First of all, this schedule depends on Red Buses snaking successfully across the busy Queensboro Bridge. Like, cross your fingers too. And as a resident expressed, the timing makes no sense, and RIOC has never explained it. It suits them, and that’s what matters.
“Tram: RIOC is running the Tram on a rush hour schedule every Saturday and Sunday from 7:00am – 10:00pm during the ongoing MTA trackwork. Please be advised that we expect longer than average wait times for the Tram while this MTA work takes place, so you should plan your travel accordingly. Extra PSD officers will be stationed at both the Roosevelt Island and Manhattan Tram stations during these weekends, and if you are elderly or disabled and need help reaching the Manhattan side Tram platform, please make sure to speak with one of the PSD officers on site.
Time and again, this has been shown not to work. Long lines gather, and Roosevelt Islanders are pushed out of a necessary transit option – and that’s when the subway’s running.
RIOC always says there will be “extra PSD officers,” as if there are always some. Neither assertion, as noted many times, is true.
And “…if you are elderly or disabled and need help reaching the Manhattan side Tram platform, please make sure to speak with one of the PSD officers: on site…” Really? Where would you find one? The absence of any posted location tells the story: There is no plan, there never is, and you are stuck.
Thanks for nothing, RIOC.
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