Roosevelt Island Tram Livestreams: Half-Fast RIOC Response

Over the last several years, tourist pressures led to intolerable crowding in Tram cabins and platforms. Now, a little late in the game, RIOC has installed Tram Station Livestreams that don’t reduce crowding but warn potential riders when things are at their worst. But this half-fast solution doesn’t do that well or at all on one side. Here’s the scoop.

by David Stone

The Roosevelt Island Daily News

This past week, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) launched its new Tram Station Livestreams, real-time video feeds of both the Roosevelt Island and Manhattan Tram stations that will allow travelers to check lines and conditions before heading out for their travel. The livestreams can be viewed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the RIOC website, by visiting https://rioc.ny.gov/673/Roosevelt-Island-Tram-Station-Livestream. To navigate to the Livestream from the RIOC homepage, visit RIOC.ny.gov, click the Transportation tab, then Tram, then Roosevelt Island Tram Station Livestreams.

RIOC Travel Advisory, June 11th, 2024

Let’s start with that Advisory because the information is not accurate. If you follow the instructions – “visit RIOC.ny.gov, etc…” you will not get the live stream. You must navigate over to the sidebar before getting feeds.

The Tram Livestreams, Warts and All

Arranging the live streams is a relatively pathetic gesture in response to serious issues facing Roosevelt Islanders, many of whom have been intimidated off the Tram.

Above is a live screenshot of the Tram Station Livestreams on RIOC‘s site. On the Roosevelt Island side, it does exactly as promised. You can see both approaches to the Tram platform as well as glimpse the platform.

But the 2nd Avenue side is strange and totally ineffective… unless you’re looking for a view of traffic exiting the Queensboro Bridge. Or hoping for a shady space in the park for lunch or a smoke. Neither camera reveals anything about lines for boarding.

That is, half-fast and only 50% useful.

Long-time Tram users saw the work as a feeble response to a serious problem.

Residents say…

“If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with BS,” one resident wrote. “I’m pretty sure I do not need a livestream to let me know when I cannot have easy access as a resident, senior and mostly able-bodied person…

“Please remind them why the Tram was built in the first place…”

Will do.

Why Was the Roosevelt Island Tram Built?

The Roosevelt Island Tram was built in 1976 to address a transportation need created by the development of Roosevelt Island. Here’s a breakdown of the reasons:

Island Development: In the late 1960s, plans were underway to create a high-density community on Roosevelt Island. This meant there would be a surge in residents needing an efficient way to get to and from Manhattan.
Temporary Solution: Initially, the tram was conceived as a temporary measure. The idea was to provide transportation until a subway line connecting the island to Manhattan was completed.
Construction Delays: The construction of the 63rd Street subway line, which was supposed to be the permanent solution, faced delays. The tram, meanwhile, proved to be popular and convenient.
Unexpected Popularity: The tram quickly became a preferred mode of transportation for residents. Even after the subway finally opened in 1989, the tram remained in operation due to its continued ridership.

Note: there is no mention of promoting tourist traffic aimed at increasing revenue collections, the root of today’s problems. This is precisely why the Tram Station Livestreams exist.

Finally…

While the Tram Station Livestreams may be helpful along the margins, RIOC has made no progress in addressing the crisis Roosevelt Islanders experience.

Support Indie Journalism at The Roosevelt Island Daily

The cabins are too crowded for many residents, especially the physically challenged. Even platform access is difficult.

And then, there’s the unforgivable insult at street level on the 2nd Avenue side. As countless hopeful riders have noticed, the “…please speak with a PSD officer.” is a bad joke. There is almost never any PSO in sight and no way to summon one.

Shame on RIOC, if this is the best they can do.

davidstone1313