RIOC’s incompetence is glaring as tram operations crumble under POMA’s ineptitude. Passengers suffer, solutions are delayed, and accountability is nonexistent. When will this nightmare of Tram Fiascos end?
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
If anything signals RIOC‘s complete surrender to Tram manager Leitner-POMA, we saw it Wednesday. At a Operations Committee meeting, chair Fay Christian welcomed joking about tourists and Tram access. She ignored the pain this causes Roosevelt Islanders. She then nodded and winked at a screwy, rambling presentation by a POMA manager.
The highlight: Don’t expect a solution to the swinging and braking until “Q3, next year.” Folks, that quarter begins in July.
But then, Thursday followed Wednesday with a fresh Tram fiasco that told the same story.
Thursday’s Tram Fiasco
Tram cabins slowed down. Tourists crush in against Roosevelt Islanders going to work, shopping and appointments. RIOC, busy violating ADA rules, refuses all help. Public Safety officers are never around anymore. Communications with passengers sucks.
All this leads to a fumbling, hours long shutdown POMA and RIOC never saw coming.
Friday, November 22nd, one Tram cabin was out all day, but no announcement was made until late afternoon. That was four minutes before RIOC said it reopened. Passengers, during rush hour, got to watch the cheery Holiday display in the Plaza while they waited.
Yesterday’s debacle started at around 1:30. Dozens of passengers were stranded on the Roosevelt Island Platform as one packed cabin lifted off.
It was a harbinger of things to come. The next cabin, about 20 minutes later, quickly filled. It was so filled, in fact, that it was overweight.
Two polite but ineffective POMA employees came out and asked for volunteers willing to get off. They warned that the cabin wasn’t going anywhere until a few exited. Nobody volunteered. After several minutes delay, a gruffer POMA manager popped in, shouting the same message, but louder.
No one took the bait. Where were these guys when older and physically disabled residents needed help?
So, taking a cue from another passenger, I spoke up: “Why don’t you just ask the last few that got on to step off?” It wasn’t rocket science. It was simple logic, but POMA, which should be trained, didn’t get it.
After I suggested it again, the gruffer guy suggested that I could get off. From the middle of the cabin, I declined his offer.
Finally, a handful of passengers near the door volunteered, and we lifted off.
Later, on Facebook, a resident asked, “Where was PSD?” Well, you know already…
Then, It Got Worse
An hour later, returning, I felt relieved when, walking up 2nd, I saw only a few people on the platform. It was strange but encouraging… until I climbed the steps and saw…
With the Tram shutdown, people, including at least two mothers with strollers, were stranded.
… the Tram fiasco.
A platform manager asked everyone to leave. There were no refunds or directions.
After confirming the total shutdown, I checked my phone for advisories from RIOC. 20 minutes earlier, they sent this:
Dear Roosevelt Island Community:
Due to ongoing maintenance issues, only one Tram cabin will be in operation at the start of the evening rush hour. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to return a second cabin to service as quickly as possible.
In the meantime, please consider utilizing the subway or ferry for your evening commute home.
Thank you for your understanding.
-RIOC Transportation
Really?
“Not true. Both cabins are out and they’ve emptied the platforms,” I shot back.
Waking Up RIOC
10 minutes later and a full half-hour after its earlier erroneous advisory, RIOC arose from its nap:
“While the North Cabin remains offline as POMA works to resolve an issue with the Wi-Fi connection, the South Cabin has also been taken offline to replace a sheave on the south line. The team is working as quickly as possible to restore service, but in the meantime, please consider using the ferry or F-train for your evening commute.”
What was missing?
When POMA screws up on simple maintenance and strands everyone during rush hour, why not a rescue bus? Were physically challenged and older Roosevelt Islanders expected to struggle through crowed streets all the way to 63rd & Lex?
Where was the compassion or the responsibility? Where was the apology?
Does RIOC even know if everyone got home okay? Do they care?
Finally…
In 1995, State Comptroller Carl McCall suggested that RIOC take over Tram operations with its own personnel. It was losing money then and loses even more now because of a badly negotiated contract with POMA. It’s still a good idea.
I’ll explain: RIOC blames the shutdown on the need to replace “a sheave.” Sounds serious, right? Do you know what a sheave is? It’s a simple pulley, and the Tram’s cables pass through it. It’s the routine equipment minimal maintenance prevents from breaking down unexpectedly.
Oh, and the WiFi problem? That’s been going on for over a year now, but POMA’s French headquarters is working on it. A solution is promised for… wait for it… Q3, next year.
While RIOC is not setting any records in performance, taking over Tram operations can’t be worse. And it would be a lot less expensive.
Or should we just keep experiencing and report one Tram fiasco after another until the whole system collapses?
Howard Polivy, the Man Who Never Left
There is a particular rhythm to board meetings. Once you have sat through enough of them, they begin to blend together. The agenda appears. The minutes are approved.
