RIOC made a determined effort to move Roosevelt Island transportation closer to normal. They bought a “Red Bus Shuttle.” It hits the Main Street rotation tomorrow morning. It isn’t red, but it’s helpful, especially for residents on the north end.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Introducing the Red Bus Shuttle
When RIOC’s aging fleet neared total failure in August, with just one vehicle operating all day, managers went into action. A big plus came when Senator Liz Krueger answered the call for help. A request directly to MTA CEO Janno Lieber got the transportation giant connected with RIOC. Along with help getting hard to find repair parts faster, the team shared knowledge on how they get things done.
Soon, a second bus went into action. But on a parallel track, Acting COO Mary Cunneen found a small bus on the market. She believed the small bus could help. She sought CFO Dhruvika Patel Amin’s okay for the buy. The result is a much needed quick shot in the arm as schools reopen and folks get back to work.
How It Will Work
Getting two buses running the Main Street circuit is a huge improvement. RIOC has returned to the familiar 15 minute intervals. Now, enhancing that is the Red Bus Shuttle.
The new vehicle will shadow the standard route on a half-hour basis. When a Red Bus leaves the Octagon at 8:00 a.m., for example, the shuttle will follow at 8:05, making all stops to the Tram. The same happens at 8:30.
The new, smaller vehicles seat 14 with some standing room. Two wheelchair lifts are also available.
This doesn’t solve all the problems. Strollers jamming the aisles and tourists hogging the reserved seats may never go away. But compared to where we were two weeks ago, it’s a huge leap.
Hats off to Cy Opperman who stepped in from retirement to help with the changes. Also, hats off to RIOC’s interim leadership. They are showing the kind of responsible management we’ve missed for years.
The Other End of the Leash
The first thing winter reveals when it loosens its grip is not green grass. It is honesty.
