Roosevelt Island’s Tram shutdown highlights RIOC’s negligence, further harming residents with disabilities while tourists swarm, exposing systemic failures in public transport and outright disregard for residents.

by David Stone

The Roosevelt Island Daily News

Shutdowns Starting February 10th

First Up: The Roosevelt Island Tram

The current issue concerning persistent Tram crowding will be back in focus in early February. Late last week, RIOC announced a partial Tram shutdown. It begins on February 10th.

Our Tram operator, Leitner-POMA, has scheduled upcoming repair work for the Tram’s South cabin, which will require the cabin to be taken out of service for several days. The repair work is scheduled to take place from Monday, February 10th through Friday, February 14th.

RIOC Advisory

With only a single cabin in service, rush hours will be extremely difficult, especially for those with special needs. Nevertheless, RIOC has not announced any assistance nor is it likely to open up for priority boarding.

Ignoring Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rules is routine with RIOC. Likewise, appeals from residents for priority boarding go unheeded. No help is anticipated.

RIOC suggests, “Travelers should consider utilizing other modes of transportation…”

• Update 2023: Shops or Flops On Main? – Over Ten Years Down the Road
• Heads Up: No F Trains from Manhattan This Weekend, June 16th to 19th.
• Roosevelt Island AVAC Shutdown: Effects and RIOC Advisory
• Update: Tram Shutdown. Without Warning, RIOC Does It Again
• How Roosevelt Island Survived the Worst Transit Month

F Train Service Disruptions

Immediately following RIOC’s Tram shutdown, the MTA follows with one of their own.

Brooklyn-bound F runs via the E from Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av to 5 Av/53 St, resuming regular service at 47-50 Sts

Feb 14 – 18, Fri 11:45 PM to Tue 5:00 AM (includes Presidents’ Day)

“…includes Presidents’ Day” should raise alarms for Roosevelt Islanders. This will bring extra pressure to the Tram. Residents needing to get into Manhattan will fight with an increased tourist load during the holiday weekend.

As with sister state agency RIOC, the MTA offers no special assistance.

For service from 21 St-Queensbridge and Roosevelt Island, take the F  toJackson Hts-Roosevelt Av  or Steinway St (11 PM to 5 AM, nightly) and transfer to a Brooklyn-bound F.

For those fed up with endless giveaways of taxpayer dollars while ordinary citizens are ignored, you’ve got another one for your list.

Lance A. Polivy, Vice President for Legal Affairs

Before RIOC votes, residents deserve to know what happened to the promised search, what conflicts were reviewed, and who will be protected when the next negotiation begins.

Eleanor Rivers May 12, 2026

I do not usually write ahead of the week’s rhythm. Fridays suit an old woman. They allow time for tea, rereading, and the small mercy of correcting one’s own excessive cleverness. But this cannot wait for Friday.

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