Roosevelt Island Tramway - Misplaced Pages

(Redirected from Roosevelt Island Tram) Aerial tram line in New York City

Roosevelt Island Tramway

Overview
Status	Operational
Character	Commuter
Location	Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Coordinates	40°45′27″N 73°57′15″W / 40.7574°N 73.9541°W / 40.7574; -73.9541 (Roosevelt Island terminal)
Termini	Upper East Side (west) Roosevelt Island (east)
Elevation	highest: 250 ft (76 m)
No. of stations	2
Services	Roosevelt Island
Open	May 17, 1976
Reopened	November 30, 2010
Website	rioc.ny.gov/302/Tram
Operation
Owner	Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
Operator	Leitner-Poma
No. of carriers	2
Carrier capacity	110
Ridership	2,146,128 (FY 2023)
Operating times	6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. (weekdays) 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. (weekends)
Headway	7.5–15 minutes
Fare	$2.90
Technical features
Aerial lift type	Aerial tramway
Manufactured by	Von Roll
Line length	3,140 ft (960 m)
Operating speed	17 mph (27 km/h)

The Roosevelt Island Tramway is an aerial tramway that crosses the East River in New York City, connecting Roosevelt Island to the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The tramway is the first commuter aerial tramway in the U.S., having opened on May 17, 1976, to serve residential developments on Roosevelt Island. The tram is operated by Leitner-Poma on behalf of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation of the State of New York.

Before the tramway opened, Roosevelt Island had been accessed via the Roosevelt Island Bridge from Queens, which had opened in 1955. Starting in the late 1960s, the 63rd Street subway line was built to connect new developments on the island to Manhattan. Due to delays in the subway's construction, the tramway was proposed in 1971 and approved in 1973, initially as a temporary mode of transport. The tramway carried 1.25 million riders in its first year and remained popular thereafter, despite intermittent closures. Ridership declined sharply after the subway opened in 1989, though the tramway remained in operation. Following two major breakdowns in the mid-2000s, the tramway was rebuilt from March to November 2010. The stations were renovated in the late 2010s.

Originally, the tram used two 125-person cabins that were hauled by the same cable. After the 2010 renovation, the cabins were replaced with 110-person vehicles that could operate independently. The cabins travel 3,140 feet (960 m) between an at-grade terminal on Roosevelt Island and an elevated terminal on Manhattan Island. The route operates at all times except late nights, with headways of 7.5 to 15 minutes. The tramway uses the same fare structure as the city's bus and subway systems, and fares are paid with either MetroCard or OMNY. Over the years, the Roosevelt Island Tramway has been the subject of commentary and praised as an icon of New York City, and it has been depicted in several works of media.

History

Background

What is now Roosevelt Island was, until the mid-20th century, known as Blackwell's Island or Welfare Island; it was largely occupied by hospitals and asylums. The Queensboro Bridge, which connected the island with Queens and Manhattan, opened in 1909. A trolley (streetcar) line ran across the bridge when it opened, stopping in the middle of the bridge at an elevator that took passengers down to the island. The trolley remained in service until April 7, 1957, as the last trolley line in New York state; a bridge to Queens had been completed two years earlier.

After the state government leased Welfare Island from the city in 1969, several large housing developments were built there in the early 1970s, necessitating the construction of a public transit connection. Welfare Island was renamed Roosevelt Island in 1973, and residents began moving onto the island in mid-1975. The Roosevelt Island subway station on the 63rd Street Line was being developed to serve the new community, but the entire line was delayed significantly by the mid-1970s. The first residents of Roosevelt Island had to travel through Queens to leave the island, making it difficult to travel to and from Manhattan via car.

Development

Planning

Because of the delays in building the subway line, an alternative mode of transportation between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island had to be devised. At a meeting of Manhattan Community Board 8 in September 1971, the Welfare Island Development Corporation proposed an aerial tramway, which the board narrowly approved the next month. The tram was to run between the Motorgate parking garage on Welfare Island and 72nd Street on Manhattan's Upper East Side, with two 120-passenger cabins that ascended 200 feet (61 m) above the East River. The Christian Science Monitor wrote that the tramway "ought to be the classiest transportation buy in New York City". Although the 72nd Street location had been selected because it was far from the subway, wealthy Manhattan residents objected to the tramway's terminal being placed there.

The Urban Development Corporation (UDC), a New York state agency, had studied the feasibility of a ferry, a bus, and an aerial tramway by 1972. Ferry routes to 34th, 63rd, and 71st Streets were studied but were ruled out due to high operating costs, lack of mass-transit connections, and lack of union support. Other alternatives under consideration included an elevator extending directly from the Queensboro Bridge. UDC architect William Chafee proposed an aerial tramway, which was ultimately selected because it was cheap, direct, and fit into Roosevelt Island's quiet character. By early 1973, the UDC was finalizing plans for a tramway, which was to be the first commuter aerial tramway in the U.S. The tramway was to be the main means of travel between Roosevelt Island and Manhattan, and it was intended as a temporary mode of transit until the subway was completed. The plans called for two 125-passenger cabins that would travel 2,470 feet (750 m) across the East River's western channel, just south of the Queensboro Bridge. Officials hoped the tramway would help the UDC's sales campaigns for the island.

Residents of Sutton Place, a street facing the East River in Manhattan, opposed the tramway plan because they felt the tramway would cause urban blight. The United States Coast Guard also needed to approve the project because it crossed a navigable waterway. In September 1973, the route was changed to the north side of the Queensboro Bridge after property owners protested; UDC president Ed Logue said that "no prominent people lived" near the bridge's north side. The next month, the New York City Board of Estimate approved the aerial tramway. The state government was given a franchise for the tramway in December 1973, allowing construction to begin.

Construction

Swiss firm Von Roll was selected to supply and erect the tram and its equipment, in part because, according to the New York Daily News, Von Roll made the "Cadillac of tramways". VSL, a subsidiary of Von Roll, installed the equipment. The United States Army Corps of Engineers solicited public comments on the tramway plan in January 1974. The footpath on the Queensboro Bridge was shuttered that July in preparation for the tramway's opening, and a pair of lampposts at the Manhattan end of the Queensboro Bridge were removed to make way for the tramway. On the Roosevelt Island side, work was delayed because of the need to relocate the island's municipal laundry building.

Work on the route began the first week of October 1974. Construction, initially scheduled to be completed by around September 1975, was delayed due to the UDC's financial issues. An interim commuter bus to Manhattan via Queens was launched in March 1975; the bus route took up to an hour to reach Manhattan, whereas the tramway was expected to take five minutes. The tramway's engineer, David Ozerkis, predicted the next month that construction would be complete within the year. By that April, two of three tramway towers were finished.

The towers for the tram route were erected by July 1975, when completion was projected for that December. The first cables for the tramway were installed the next month. Construction was delayed various times, in part due to strikes and inclement weather. The delays prompted numerous unfounded rumors about the route, including conjecture that the cabins were involved in collisions or were being secretly run at night. During an initial test of the route in February 1976, a tram hit a light pole, forcing the removal of the pole. By March of that year, the route was complete, and it only needed additional testing and state government approval before it could open to the public. The tramway had cost $6.25 million or $6.8 million to build (equivalent to $26–28 million in 2023) It was funded by bonds that had been issued to fund the development of Roosevelt Island. The equipment and vehicles had cost at least $2 million (equivalent to $8 million in 2023), while the support towers and stations cost another $4.25 million (equivalent to $18 million in 2023).

Opening and early operations

1970s

The tramway route opened on May 17, 1976. As built, there was one elevator at the Manhattan terminal; the Roosevelt Island terminal was at ground level. The first staff members included an unemployed firefighter who, according to The New York Times, said that his knowledge of "rescue procedures" had gotten him the job. The city's franchise to the UDC mandated that the tram's fare be at least 25 cents more expensive than the subway's fare, preventing the tram from drawing away subway riders. The route was free on its opening day, but rides were 50 cents (equivalent to $3 in 2023) thereafter. Following Roosevelt Island residents' complaints, the UDC stopped selling fares in Manhattan, gave "priority passes" to Roosevelt Island residents, limited the capacity of each tram, and prohibited several activities onboard. Bicycles were allowed in the cabins, but the UDC gave priority to passengers.

Paul Goldberger of The New York Times wrote that Roosevelt Island's popularity rose significantly after the tramway opened, while a writer for the Gannett News Service said the tramway had become both a tourist attraction in itself and an icon of the island. After the UDC fired the original operator, ITT Inc., it hired VSL International to run the tram in January 1977; there was no bidding process before VSL received the contract. VSL's staff of 20 tram operators (who also worked as station attendants), six mechanics, and four console operators worked three shifts of eight hours each. The UDC received a $2 million annual subsidy from the state government (equivalent to $8 million in 2023) for the tramway and other projects on Roosevelt Island.

In 1977—its first full year of operation—the tramway recorded an $800,000 deficit (equivalent to $3,140,000 in 2023). The tramway's liability insurance policy cost $900,000 per year (equivalent to $3,533,000 in 2023), almost equal to its revenue from fares; such an expensive insurance cost was necessitated by the fact that there were no other aerial commuter tramways in the U.S. In addition, operating expenses amounted to $1 million a year (equivalent to $4 million in 2023), and the state government was essentially paying a 95-cent subsidy for every rider. Despite the lack of any major accidents, the tramway continued to have high insurance costs in 1978. This prompted governor Hugh Carey to ask his aides to study the feasibility of having the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) take over the line. The tramway was shuttered in mid-November 1978 so workers could replace the haul cable, which was beyond the end of its service life. The cable replacement project cost $75,000 and took two weeks. Afterward, the tramway had to be closed every two years so workers could replace the haul cable.

1980s

A plaza around the tram's Manhattan terminal was established in 1980. After the tram was closed in November 1980 for haul cable replacement, the new cable fell twice in one month, prompting investigations by the state government. The months-long closure caused overcrowding on Queens bus routes and did not end until March 1981. The extended closure of the tramway had also prompted proposals for a year-round ferry to Roosevelt Island, but interest in the ferry disappeared after the tram reopened. Further haul-cable replacements occurred in November 1983 and August 1985. Although both cabins were originally red, one of the cabins was repainted blue in 1984, prompting complaints from some residents. State officials warned in late 1985 that tram passengers could have to wait as long as 45 minutes if the subway line to Roosevelt Island were not completed within three years. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), a state agency created in 1984 to manage Roosevelt Island, took over the tram service when it was created.

The tramway's insurance cost $677,000 a year (equivalent to $1,596,000 in 2023) when the liability insurance policy expired in early 1986; at the time, the tram served 150,000 people a month. After the insurance expired, the New York State Senate failed to pass a bill that allowed the state to self-insure the tramway; the New York State Assembly, the state's other legislative body, had already approved the bill. This was in part due to objections from upstate politicians who wanted liability insurance for their communities as well. The route stopped running in February 1986. After the State Senate initially rejected the self-insurance bill again, it ultimately allowed the state government to pay $8 million a year in insurance (equivalent to $19 million in 2023), and the route reopened after two weeks. The State Senate failed to pass a separate bill that would formalize the state government's involvement in paying insurance. By mid-1986, the tramway was operating at full capacity. The tramway closed for a week in August 1986 due to an electrical issue, and the blue cabin was repainted red.

In mid-1989, mayor Ed Koch indicated that the tram might be closed after the subway opened. One local resident stated at the time: "For many Islanders, this could be a day that will live in infamy: When the subway finally comes, the cherished tram may go." The line was again temporarily closed that July, after nine riders were injured when a cabin crashed into the Manhattan terminal. Under an agreement with the city government, fares on the tramway were raised by 25 cents after the 63rd Street subway opened in October 1989. RIOC estimated that the tram would lose $1 million in a year (equivalent to $2 million in 2023) because of competition from the subway. When the subway opened, RIOC fired staff members and installed token machines in an effort to cut costs. New York magazine wrote that some residents opposed the tramway's closure because it provided a wheelchair-accessible connection to more bus routes in Manhattan than the subway did. Two thousand people signed a petition in support of saving the tramway, and RIOC said it had no plans to close the tram.

1990s

Following decreases in rush-hour ridership of up to 45 percent, New York City Council member Robert Dryfoos sponsored legislation in April 1990 that would allow the city and state to continue operating the tram. Dryfoos's bill called for the city to stop charging the tramway a $136,000 annual franchise fee (equivalent to $280,000 in 2023); remove a requirement that a tram ride be more expensive than a subway ride; and allow students to ride the tram for free. The Board of Estimate agreed to provide discounted senior fares and free student fares; while the Office of Management and Budget agreed to fund the senior fares, the Department of Education would not pay for the student fares. RIOC also wanted the city government to attract tourists to the tram. In late 1990, NYNEX received permission to build a phone substation and an observation deck directly beneath the tramway, next to one of the support towers. Ultimately, the tramway remained as a permanent transit link. The tram was closed in October 1993 due to electrical issues and was repaired over the next three months. It reopened in February 1994 but closed again that July for a $2.1 million renovation (equivalent to $4 million in 2023).

During the 1990s, RIOC promoted various programs and events to increase its revenue and the tramway's ridership. To promote museums in Long Island City and Astoria, Queens, RIOC started selling "Tram Artlink" passes in 1994, which included tram tickets, connecting bus service, and museum admission. By 1995, further financial troubles forced RIOC to propose reducing service by four hours on weekdays and five hours on weekends. RIOC's agreement with the city government expired in 1995. Governor George Pataki announced in early 1996 that he wanted to eliminate all subsidies for RIOC, including subsidies for the tramway; at the time, the tram was operating at a $1 million annual loss (equivalent to $2 million in 2023). Despite protests from residents, the state stopped subsidizing the tramway the same year. With the elimination of the state subsidy, Roosevelt Island residents feared that the tram could not be repaired in an emergency, since many parts for the tram were manufactured in Switzerland and imported at a high cost. Residents also expressed concerns over decreases in service.

The tramway was again temporarily shuttered in January 1998 when a crane hit a cabin and injured 11 passengers; after the damaged cabin was repaired, the tramway reopened one week later. The tram was still losing $700,000 a year (equivalent to $1,221,000 in 2023), and twice as many people used the Roosevelt Island subway station as the tramway. Roosevelt Island's chief operating officer, Jerome Blue, wanted to reduce operating hours to save money, but many of the island's residents objected. In particular, disabled and senior residents preferred using the tram over the subway. The elevators to the subway station were often out of service, and the island's wheelchair-accessible buses traveled only to Queens. Blue also wanted to eliminate free fares for students, but this was unsuccessful, as was his attempt to cut back operating hours. By the late 1990s, tramway riders were advocating for free transfers to the bus and subway systems; at the time, riders had to pay another fare if they wanted to transfer.

21st century

2000s: Increasing unreliability

By 2001, there were plans to halt all service from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. due to low ridership. Each nighttime trip effectively received a $6.45 subsidy from the RIOC (equivalent to $11 in 2023), more than double the subsidy for each daytime trip, and the line was losing $1.7 million annually (equivalent to $3 million in 2023). The tramway was temporarily closed for cable replacement in November 2001. Although the closure was supposed to last one month, the tramway did not reopen until March 2002 because the original replacement cable was 8 feet (2.4 m) too short. During the closure, the cabins were also restored. The RIOC's chief operating officer Robert Ryan proposed running advertisements on the tram cabins in mid-2002 to reduce the line's operating deficit, though New York City Council speaker Gifford Miller said such advertisements were illegal. Ultimately, RIOC ran advertisements on the cabins despite not having received permission from the city.

The subway stopped accepting tokens as fare payment in May 2003, followed by the city's bus system that December, but the Roosevelt Island Tramway continued to use tokens exclusively. RIOC bought 7,000 tokens from the MTA so passengers could continue to pay fares. RIOC announced in January 2004 that the tramway's turnstiles would begin accepting MetroCards. The tramway switched to using MetroCards on March 1, 2004, allowing tram passengers to transfer to the subway or bus for free.

On September 2, 2005, more than 80 people were trapped on the tram for over 90 minutes, and an engineer had to be transported from his suburban home via helicopter to turn on a backup generator. After that incident, state inspectors issued two violations against the tramway and ordered RIOC to install a diesel backup or motor-generator system. On April 18, 2006, at about 5:22 p.m. EDT, the two trams stalled over the East River, trapping 69 people for up to eleven hours; they had to be rescued using a crane, as well as via a cage that traveled from one terminal to the stranded cabin. Both the primary and secondary power systems were not operational, and the backup system was in California for repairs. The tramway was closed indefinitely, and the cabins stalled twice more the same month while RIOC officials test-ran the tramway to ascertain the cause of the breakdown. In the meantime, RIOC spent $500,000 upgrading the power systems. By May 2006, the primary electrical system had been replaced, and officials wanted to reopen the tramway within three months. The tram's backup electrical systems were refurbished, and each cabin was equipped with emergency supplies.

The tramway resumed operations on September 1, 2006. Following the breakdown, officials announced that they would spend $15 million (equivalent to $22 million in 2023) on a major overhaul of the tramway in two or three years. The Manhattan terminal's plaza was renovated in 2007. By mid-2008, the renovation had increased to $25 million (equivalent to $35 million in 2023) and was to begin the following year. Local residents were concerned about the closure because the tram was one of three ways off the island, along with the subway and the Roosevelt Island Bridge.

2010s to present

On March 1, 2010, the tramway was closed for what was supposed to be a six-month renovation. French company Poma was hired for the project, which included replacing all components except for the three tower bases. The improvements included a new "dual haul" system that allowed the cabins to travel independently of each other; previously, the cabins had to be run simultaneously. The old cabins were to be preserved on Roosevelt Island, in a museum, or both. Work was delayed because of challenges in bringing a large crane to the island. The cabins were attached to the cables in October 2010, and test runs began in mid-November. The tramway reopened November 30, 2010, two months later than originally planned. The late opening was also attributed to delays in obtaining permits for construction, as well as inclement weather.

In the early 2010s, the Cornell Tech educational campus was planned on Roosevelt Island, and there were concerns that the tram and subway could not carry additional persons heading there. In 2016, engineering company GC Eng & Associates was hired to renovate the Manhattan terminal. Repairs to both terminals' platforms began in July 2017, during which one cabin was taken out of service at all times. Headways were increased to 15 minutes, which created severe overcrowding during rush hours. One of the cabins' gearboxes was also rebuilt in 2018. The platform reconstruction project was finished in February 2019, at which point RIOC was in the process of installing two elevators at the Manhattan terminal to replace the original elevator.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City in 2020, ridership decreased significantly, and each cabin was limited to 24 percent its normal capacity. The elevators at the Manhattan terminal were completed in April 2022 for $7 million. This work also included an expansion of the Manhattan terminal's platform and renovations to the plaza underneath it. Installation of OMNY fare-payment readers on the Roosevelt Island Tramway was underway by mid-2023. On August 24, 2023, the Roosevelt Island Tramway started to accept OMNY fare payments. The launch of OMNY coincided with a long-term partial closure of the 63rd Street Line. The subway line's closure created more overcrowding during late 2023. By 2024, there were calls to give priority boarding to Roosevelt Island residents and employees due to increasing crowding. At the time, RIOC refused to implement a priority-boarding system, saying it violated a state law against giving "undue or unreasonable preference" to any group of riders.

Description

As of 2022, the tramway is operated by Leitner-Poma under contract to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. David I. Ozerkis, chief engineer of Roosevelt Island in the 1970s, designed the Roosevelt Island Tramway. Von Roll manufactured the tram and its equipment, and subsidiary VSL installed the equipment. In addition, Lev Zetlin of Lev Zetlin & Associates was the engineer for the Roosevelt Island Tramway, and Prentice & Chan and Ohlhausen were responsible for the route's two stations.

Route and stations

The Roosevelt Island Tramway runs immediately to the north of, and parallel to, the Queensboro Bridge. This was a deliberate measure intended to prevent planes at low altitude from colliding with the tramway, as the bridge is much larger than the tramway. Although RIOC gives the tramway's total length as 3,140 feet (960 m), other publications give slightly differing lengths, such as Popular Mechanics, which in a 1976 article cited the tramway as measuring 3,094 feet (943 m) long. The tramway travels 1,184 feet (361 m) over the East River's western channel. The stretch over Roosevelt Island is nearly 300 feet (91 m) long, while the stretch over Manhattan is more than 1,600 feet (490 m) long.

Manhattan terminal

The Manhattan terminal is accessed through Tramway Plaza, on the west side of Second Avenue between 59th and 60th Streets. MTA Regional Bus Operations' M15, M15 SBS, M31, M57, Q32, Q60, and Q101 buses stop near the terminal, while the New York City Subway's Lexington Avenue/59th Street station, served by the 4, 5, 6, <6>, N, R, and W trains, is one block west.

The terminal is six stories high. To avoid interfering with vehicular traffic, the Manhattan terminal is elevated; the platform is 18 feet (5.5 m) high. The station has two elevators, and there is also a set of stairs. Above the terminal is a concrete deck that could support a 32-story or 35-story building above, although such a building was never built. This deck is supported by four steel-and-concrete columns measuring 40 inches (1,000 mm) thick and 40 feet (12 m) tall. The eastern side of the terminal is cantilevered above the sidewalk of Second Avenue, providing space for an unexecuted widening of the avenue. The terminal's western side is also cantilevered and was intended to accommodate an unbuilt bus stop.

Roosevelt Island terminal

The terminal on Roosevelt Island is located at 300 Main Street and abuts the Southtown section of the island. At the Roosevelt Island terminal, there is a transfer to the Red Bus route, which offers transportation around the island for free. The MTA's Q102 bus and the subway's Roosevelt Island station (serving the F and <F> train) are also near the Roosevelt Island terminal.

The Roosevelt Island terminal is at ground level. This terminal is clad in metal and is supported by a steel superstructure. The sides of the terminal were also fitted with windows, which permitted views of machinery inside the station. Within the Roosevelt Island terminal is a 2-foot-thick (0.61 m) shear wall that conceals the anchorages for the tramway's cables.

Cabins

Original cabins (1976–2010)

The original tram cabins measured 12 by 24 feet (3.7 by 7.3 m). Each of the old cabins weighed 18,300 pounds (8,300 kg) when empty. The vehicles could travel at 17 miles per hour (27 km/h) and could fit 125 people (including one attendant), for a total capacity of 1,800 people an hour. The original cabins were mostly standing-room only except for a few benches on the sides. The cabins had overhead leather straps, which were refurbished in the 1990s and removed in 2010; at the time, they were the only vehicles in New York City's transit system that used straps. The bottom sections of the exteriors were composed of bulky red metal panels, while the top sections had sliding windows, which wrapped around the vehicle. The roof of each cabin had an emergency escape hatch, a vent, and an asymmetrical A-shaped arm that ran along a set of track ropes.

Telephones in each cabin allowed operators to communicate with staff at either terminal. Each cabin also had three separate braking systems, as well as small consoles that allowed the attendants to semi-automatically control the cabins. There were rescue hatches on the floor of each cabin, which could be used to extricate riders if the tramway broke down over land. The old cabins were stored in the Motorgate parking garage after the 2010 renovation.

Current cabins (2010–present)

Each of the new cabins weighs 22,125 pounds (10,036 kg) when empty. The vehicles move at about 17 mph (27 km/h) and have a capacity of 110 (including one attendant). The cabins are standing-room only, except for two benches on the sides, and contain metal grab bars. The exteriors of each vehicle have larger windows than the original cabins did. The roof of each cabin has a set of two arms, which are suspended from a pair of cables; this allows the cars to maintain stability in windy weather. The cabins are also powered by their own electric engines. The vehicles' doors are automatically operated, and there are digital screens inside. The cabins are also equipped with wireless communications systems. As a safety measure, when a cabin loses contact with the route's terminals, its braking systems stop it suddenly, which has sometimes caused the cabin to sway in midair.

Rescue cages

If the cabins were to break down over water, riders can be brought to safety via a rescue cage. There are two rescue cages, each with a capacity of 14 passengers. The rescue cages have their own drive systems and can also be operated using a battery-powered console. During a breakdown, the cages can be attached to a set of rescue ropes on the tramway; the cages could then be brought up to the passengers, who can be evacuated through the windows of the cabins.

Structures and cabling

Originally, the cabins were suspended from their own pair of closely-spaced track ropes, and they were moved using a single haul cable. The haul cable was cited as measuring 1.625 inches (41.3 mm) thick, while the track cables were cited as measuring 1.8125 inches (46.0 mm) thick. The haul cable was laid in a continuous loop, moving the two cabins in opposite directions at the same time. As such, both cabins had to depart and arrive at the station at the same time; the cabins also operated during off-peak hours even if there was a lack of demand, and the entire route had to be taken out of service if one cabin broke down. The track ropes were attached to anchors at the Roosevelt Island terminal and tension weights at the Manhattan terminal. The anchors at the Roosevelt Island terminal were counterweights that descended 40 feet (12 m) into the ground.

Following the 2010 renovation, the Roosevelt Island Tramway was rebuilt as a dual haul system, allowing the cabins to be operated separately from each other. Each cabin is suspended from its own set of cables, which has a gauge of 14 feet (4.3 m). The cables can carry loads of up to 300,000 pounds (140,000 kg), more than three times the 80,000-pound (36,000 kg) weight of a fully loaded cabin. A third haul cable is used to pull each of the cabins.

Three support towers carry the cables. The original plans called for the cables to be supported on two towers along the south side of the Queensboro Bridge. The towers were moved to the north side of the bridge before construction began, and another tower was added. As built, the westernmost tower is between First and Second Avenues in Manhattan, the central tower is at York Avenue in Manhattan, and the easternmost tower is on Roosevelt Island. The towers are composed of steel posts that are welded together, and their foundations extend 40 feet (12 m) deep. The tallest tower, that at York Avenue, is 250 feet (76 m) above ground. The floors of the cabins are 135 feet (41 m) above the East River at their lowest point. When the system was built, a set of bars called "cabin entrance guides" was installed to prevent the cabins from hitting each station.

Drive system

When the tramway first opened, it was equipped with main drive, auxiliary drive, and rescue drive units. The haul cable was propelled by drive bull wheels at the Roosevelt Island terminal, which was operated by the main drive unit at the same location. The main drive unit had a motor that was cited as having either a 1,700 horsepower (1,300 kW) motor or a 2,000 horsepower (1,500 kW) motor. An overload circuit could turn off the main drive unit in an emergency. The Roosevelt Island terminal also had the rescue drive unit, which could pull a second haul cable in case of an emergency and could be activated within five minutes of a breakdown. At the Roosevelt Island terminal was a master console, which alerted controllers to issues and could override the consoles in each cabin. The auxiliary drive was a hydrostatic drive that ran on diesel.

The tramway's renovation involved replacing the main drive unit with an alternating current inverter system. Four backup generators were installed at each terminal behind the passenger waiting areas.

Operations

The tramway begins operating at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time every day. The last trip is at 2:00 a.m. on weekdays and 3:30 a.m. on weekends. The route runs on 7.5-minute headways during rush hours and weekend mornings and 15-minute headways at all other times. The cabins can carry a maximum of 1,200 people an hour during peak times. On average, the tramway makes approximately 115 trips per day. The rides typically last three to four minutes. The tram is wheelchair accessible, and bicycles are permitted in cabins. Originally, the tramway could operate in most weather conditions, but it shut down if crosswinds exceeded either 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) or 45 miles per hour (72 km/h). Thunderstorms and lightning could also shut down the route. The modern tramway shuts down if crosswinds exceed 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) or if there is lightning.

The Roosevelt Island Tramway was the only aerial commuter tram in the U.S. until 2006, when the Portland Aerial Tram opened. A 2005 New York Times article described the tramway as one of fewer than two dozen aerial trams in the country, as most aerial trams in the U.S. served ski resorts. The Roosevelt Island Tramway and the Portland Aerial Tram remain the only two urban gondola lines nationwide as of 2024.

Fares

Originally, the city government received seven percent of all gross revenue from the tramway. During the mid-1980s, the fare was required to be the same as that on the subways and buses, and farebox revenue was used to fund operating costs. The RIOC's franchise agreement with the city mandated that, after the 63rd Street subway opened in 1989, the tramway fare be 25 cents higher than the subway fare. The franchise agreement expired in 1995.

Children who were 5 years old or younger were allowed to ride fare-free until the 2010 closure, when RIOC stopped charging fares based on age. Ever since the tramway reopened, children under 44 inches (1,100 mm) have been allowed to ride fare-free regardless of their age if they are accompanied by a paying adult.

The Roosevelt Island Tramway formerly issued its own fare token, with images of the Queensboro Bridge and a cabin on opposite sides. Standard New York City transit tokens were used on the Roosevelt Island Tramway until 2004, when MetroCard was implemented. OMNY has been accepted on the tram since August 2023. The fare using OMNY or pay-per-ride MetroCard is the same as that on the buses and subways, $2.90 for a one-way trip, as of 2023. The tramway also accepts unlimited-ride MetroCards, and fares paid using OMNY are capped at $34 every seven days. Riders can transfer from the tram to buses and subway stations on either end for free, or vice versa, and tram riders can transfer to express buses for an extra fee.

Ridership

After the tramway opened in 1976, it recorded 5,000 passengers on its first Sunday of operation and attracted 10,000 daily passengers in its first few weeks. The tramway carried its one-millionth rider in March 1977 and had seen 1.25 million riders, many of whom were weekend travelers, by its first anniversary. By 1989, just before the 63rd Street subway line began serving the island, the tramway saw 5,500 daily riders on average. Within a month of the subway's opening, the tram's weekly ridership declined from 35,000 to 20,000. Daily ridership on the tramway had decreased to 3,000 by 1993. The tramway carried approximately the same number of passengers daily in 1998, when the Roosevelt Island subway station had almost twice the ridership.

During the 2005 New York City transit strike, the tramway was one of the few public transportation modes in New York City that continued to operate, transporting three times its typical passenger count. Daily ridership averaged between 3,500 and 4,000 around that time. Just before the 2010s renovation began, the tramway had 2 million annual passengers. After the renovation was complete, daily ridership slightly increased to 6,000, and annual ridership was about 2.2 million. By 2016, the tramway accommodated 2.5 million annual passengers, while RIOC estimated that between 2.6 million and 2.7 million people rode the tramway every year. Poma estimated that 70 percent of daily riders were residents, while the remainder were tourists. The route saw 2,302,511 riders in the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2020; ridership numbers during the next two years decreased significantly due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2023, the tram recorded 2,146,128 riders, having recovered much of its pre-pandemic ridership.

Impact

Critical reception

The year before the tramway opened, Michael Winkleman wrote for New York magazine that the tramway was "a futuristic means of travel" to a "newfangled town" in the middle of the East River, at a time when the city was nearing bankruptcy. When the Roosevelt Island Tramway opened, The New York Times wrote that most Roosevelt Island residents saw the tramway positively, saying that "it has bridged their cherished moat without really destroying the insular peace and security" of the island. The Times described the tramway as a "cause for relief, if not rejoicing", for the island. The Guardian referred to the tramway as "Manhattan's touch of the Alps" but wrote that the tramway, as well as Roosevelt Island as a whole, was product of "too much public money spent improving the lives of people who were comparatively well off". The architectural critic Paul Goldberger wrote in his book The City Observed that the ride resembled a Disneyland attraction but that "there is greater pleasure still in perceiving the reality: this is not Disneyland at all—it is New York".

The ride and stations were also the subject of commentary. A Newsday reporter wrote in 1976 that "there is a distinctly eerie feeling about silently gliding over traffic jams on Second Avenue". The same year, a writer for Time said that the cabin "began its stately ascent noiselessly and almost imperceptibly" and reached its destination in three and a half minutes. Robert A. M. Stern called the tramway's Manhattan station "a study in exaggerated contrasts".

By the mid-1980s, the tramway was so important to Roosevelt Island commuters, the New York Daily News wrote that "the future of this socially planned island is wound up with the fate of" the tram. A New York Times article described some of the tramway's fans as saying that the tram was a New York City icon like the Staten Island Ferry and Brooklyn Bridge were. A writer for Newsday wrote in 1989 that "it's as if all aboard have plunked down a subway token in exchange for a great island getaway vacation". Goldberger wrote in 1990, "one hopes will keep going forever, since this ride over the East River is one of the great experiences of New York." In 2003, a reporter for the Financial Times wrote that the tramway was a landmark in itself, where "tourists receive a perfect photo opportunity and voyeurs get a quick glance into several luxury apartments and palatial offices".

The New York Times wrote in 2006 that the tramway was not only a vital mode of transport for Roosevelt Island residents, particularly students and the elderly, but also "offers a rare chance to live purely in the moment in New York, no small achievement". The Times attributed the tram's popularity to its relative safety and comfort, its lack of overcrowding, and the views from the cabins. Over the years, the tram attracted notable riders such as actor Harrison Ford, tennis player Andre Agassi, and actor/filmmaker Sylvester Stallone. After the tramway was renovated, a writer for The Washington Post said that the line allowed a "pretty awesome" view of the skyline. A Curbed writer said in 2017 that, though the tramway's usefulness was limited by the fact that it traveled only between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island, this was counterbalanced by its "sheer awesomeness" and the fact that it was less crowded than the subway.

Influence and media

The construction of the Roosevelt Island Tramway inspired plans for several similar aerial tramways in New York City. These have included an architectural firm's 2013 proposal to extend the route at either end, as well as a 2014 proposal to build a set of parallel gondola lines across the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Kongfrontation, an attraction at Universal Studios Florida that operated from 1990 to 2002, included a model of King Kong attacking a model of the Roosevelt Island Tramway.

The tramway has also been used as a filming location. The 1981 film Nighthawks was partially set on the tramway; many residents objected when the filming of one scene required shutting down the tram for a few days. Other films that have used the tramway as a setting include Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002) and Dark Water (2005), directed by Walter Salles, the latter of which was filmed on the route. In addition, the tramway was shown in the opening credits of the TV series Head of the Class and Archie Bunker's Place, as well as a 2004 episode of Fear Factor.

References

Notes

A separate ferry from Roosevelt Island to Lower Manhattan launched in 1986.
Another source gives a thickness of 1.75 inches (44 mm)
On Sunday through Thursday, service ends at 2 a.m. the following day; on Friday and Saturday, service ends at 3:30 a.m. the following day.
A free transfer is also provided in the reverse direction for bus and subway riders entering the tramway. However, only one free transfer is provided for each trip. For more information, see New York City transit fares § Transfers.

Citations

^ Ferretti, Fred (May 18, 1976). "Aerial Tram Ride to Roosevelt Island Is Opened With a Splash-on O'Dwyer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Performance Measure Report as of March 31, 2023 (Report). Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. March 31, 2023. pp. 32–34. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ Conn, Stephen R. (April 23, 1989). "Roosevelt Island: A Tram Ride, A World Apart". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
"Queensboro Bridge Opens to Traffic; A Great Host Sees the Mayor and Officials in Autos Speed Across". The New York Times. March 31, 1909. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ Phillips, McCandlish (April 7, 1957). "City's Last Trolley at End of Line; Buses Will Replace 49-Year Route on Queensboro Span". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
"Welfare Island Gets Own Bridge; $6,500,000 Link With Long Island City Is Opened by Jack and Lundy". The New York Times. May 19, 1955. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ Miller, Stephen (January 6, 2017). "A Brief History of NYC's Weirdest Mode of Transit, the Roosevelt Island Tram". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ Buckley, Tom (August 22, 1973). "Roosevelt Island: Town in Making". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
^ Hopper, Tristin (March 9, 2012). "Transit planners look to gondolas to put an end to urban gridlock". National Post. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
"Welfare Island Name Changed to Roosevelt". The New York Times. August 21, 1973. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
^ Fried, Joseph P. (June 24, 1975). "Roosevelt Island Hailed By First New Residents". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
^ Von Eckardt, Wolf (May 18, 1974). "A Community in the New Town Tradition: In the New Town Tradition". The Washington Post. p. B1. ISSN 0190-8286. ProQuest 146183567.
Burks, Edward C. (July 29, 1976). "New Subway Line Delayed 5 or 6 Years" (PDF). The New York Times. p. 35. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2011 – via TimesMachine.
^ King, Martin (October 17, 1975). "Strikes Leave Tram Up in Air". New York Daily News. p. 7. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ U.S. Department of Transportation 1981, p. 14.
^ Holcomb, Charles (September 18, 1977). "Roosevelt Island is a NYC success story". The Reporter Dispatch. p. 6. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ "'Airbus' Planned Over East River". The New York Times. September 19, 1971. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
Moritz, Owen (October 18, 1971). "Clang! Sky Bus for Manhattan". New York Daily News. p. 4. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Layton, Preston (October 18, 1971). "Report on Transit Sees a Need for More Gov't Help". New York Daily News. p. 5. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"New heights for transport". The Christian Science Monitor. September 22, 1971. p. 14. ProQuest 511191153.
^ "Roosevelt I. Tram Marks First Decade". Newsday. May 17, 1986. p. 14. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 285306424.
Moritz, Owen (April 28, 1972). "Homing In on Welfare Isle". New York Daily News. p. 4. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Moritz, Owen (October 7, 1974). "Work Begins on Roosevelt Isle Aerial Tram". New York Daily News. p. 19. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Bailey, Anthony (December 1, 1974). "Manhattan's other island". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
Blake, Peter (January 12, 1976). "The Eighth Annual Cityscape Awards". New York Magazine. Vol. 9. New York Media, LLC. p. 57. ISSN 0028-7369. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023 – via Google Books.
^ Stern, Mellins & Fishman 1995, p. 652.
^ Fowler, Glenn (March 30, 1973). "Welfare Island-Manhattan Cable-Car Plan Disclosed". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
Goldman, John J. (January 12, 1975). "Island City: Planned New York Town Awaiting First Residents". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 5C. ProQuest 1557736117.
^ Moritz, Owen (March 2, 1986). "An Island Adrift in E. River". New York Daily News. p. 12. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Oser, Alan S. (August 12, 1973). "Logue Forecasts 1973 Slowdown In U.D.C. Pace". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
Moritz, Owen (August 27, 1973). "Sutton Place Toughens Up". New York Daily News. p. 8. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Fried, Joseph P. (September 11, 1973). "Tramway Route Shifts to 60th St". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
Seigel, Max H. (October 5, 1973). "Tramway Project Approved by City: Aerial System Will Operate Across the East River to Roosevelt Island". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
Toscano, John (October 5, 1973). "Roosevelt Island Tramway Okayed". New York Daily News. p. 5. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Carroll, Maurice (December 7, 1973). "Beam Aide Dominates Estimate Board And Lindsay-Favored Programs Wait". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
Toscano, John (December 7, 1973). "Aerial Tram Gets Go Sign". New York Daily News. p. 101. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Richterman, Anita (June 28, 1976). "Problem Line". Newsday. p. 12A. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 920918252.
^ Lewis, John (February 17, 1976). "Aerial Tram Sails Smoothly – Except for Slight Hangup". New York Daily News. pp. ML7. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Blumenthal, Ralph (December 20, 1980). "Company Suspended After Fall Of Cable Got Job Without a Bid; No Irregularities Found". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
Baker, Sybil (January 30, 1974). "Ask Public Comment on Island Tramway". New York Daily News. pp. ML7. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"Close Bridge Footpath" (PDF). The Leader-Observer. Woodhaven, New York. July 25, 1974. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2017 – via Fultonhistory.com.
Weaver, Shaye (June 24, 2015). "Historic Queensboro Bridge Lamppost Base on Display After Years in Storage". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
Jamerson, Joshua (June 23, 2015). "The Mystery of a Long-Missing Relic Is Solved and Returned to the Public". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
Darnton, John (June 10, 1974). "Beame Assistants Unsure of Duties". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^ Haitch, Richard (April 6, 1975). "Follow-Up on The News". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
Young, Lynn; Malamud, Phyllis (July 14, 1975). "O Pioneers!". Newsweek. Vol. 86, no. 2. pp. 55–56. ProQuest 1882516706.
Fowler, Glenn (March 7, 1975). "Board of Estimate Votes Tunnel-Work Compromise". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
^ "Mass Transit Aerial Tramway". The Daily Messenger. United Press International. November 13, 1975. p. 15. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Bruning, Fred (April 7, 1975). "Another Island, Another Life". Newsday. pp. 68, 69. ISSN 2574-5298. Retrieved March 21, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
Clairborne, William (July 10, 1975). "Roosevelt Island, New York City's Other Island; a $400 Million Futuristic New Town In the Middle of East River" (PDF). The Washington Post. Woodhaven, New York: Watertown Daily Times. p. 4. Retrieved October 19, 2017 – via Fultonhistory.com.
^ Maitland, Leslie (August 8, 1975). "Cable Over River Strung for Tram To Roosevelt Is". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
^ Hoge, Warren (May 17, 1976). "Roosevelt Island Tramway Ready for Maiden Voyage". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
^ Moritz, Owen (March 29, 1976). "East Side, Other Isle, All Aboard the Tram". New York Daily News. p. 7. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ U.S. Department of Transportation 1981, p. 15.
^ Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
U.S. Department of Transportation 1981, pp. 14–15.
^ Volkman, Ernest (May 18, 1976). "A Tram Joins The Skyline: High-Wire Act Is Manhattan's New Transfer". Newsday. p. 1. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 922589243.
^ Moritz, Owen (May 18, 1976). "Come On & Take the A Tram!". New York Daily News. p. 3. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Herman, Robin (June 3, 1979). "An Easier Ride for You and Your Bike". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
^ Danahy, Barbara (1977). "How to Cross the East River in 3 Minutes". Transportation USA. Vol. 3, no. 2. Office of Public and Consumer Affairs, U.S. Department of Transportation. p. 11. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via Google Books.
^ Freitag, Michael (November 17, 1989). "Hard Times Overtake the Roosevelt Tram". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 14, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
Hoge, Warren (May 19, 1976). "Tramway Gets First Paying Passengers". The New York Times. p. 46. ISSN 0362-4331. ProQuest 122567190. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
Wedemeyer, Dee (May 29, 1976). "Tram Visitors Plaguing Roosevelt Island". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
Goldberger, Paul (September 26, 1977). "A Broader Horizon Is in the Offing for Roosevelt Island". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
Saunders, D. J. (April 15, 1977). "Islanders Are Hung Up on the Line". New York Daily News. pp. ML8. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Fulman, Ricki (September 23, 1977). "A view from the tram". New York Daily News. p. 51. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Johnston, Laurie (May 20, 1977). "First Anniversary of Tramway Finds Real Community on Roosevelt Island". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
^ "Insurance Rates Cited in $800,000 Tramway Deficit". The New York Times. March 19, 1978. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
^ Goldstein, Steve (May 15, 1978). "Tramway Takes Us for High Ride: 800G". New York Daily News. p. 8. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Goldstein, Steve (March 19, 1978). "Aerial Tram Is Dangling in Insurance Deficit". New York Daily News. pp. 3, 10. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Poster, Thomas (July 23, 1978). "Gov Orders MTA to Run Tramway". New York Daily News. p. 5. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Johnston, Laurie (November 14, 1978). "Roosevelt Island's Tram Is Shut Down for Repairs". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
^ Morehouse, Ward III (November 15, 1978). "N.Y. grounds its cable commuters: Schedules upset too Longest time out yet". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 5. ProQuest 512072684.
^ "Roosevelt Tram Closing for Repairs". New York Daily News. November 13, 1978. p. 8. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"Tramway Trams Again". Newsday. November 28, 1978. p. 18Q. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 965026721.
^ Gargan, Edward A. (December 20, 1980). "Roosevelt I. Tram Cable Falls to Street a 2d Time; Upper Level Lanes Closed Cable Nearly Two Inches Thick Section of Tram Cable From Roosevelt Island Falls to Street 2d Time Cable Made in Switzerland". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
^ "Parks & Recreation Cuts Ribbon On Reconstructed Tramway Plaza : NYC Parks". New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. July 19, 2007. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
"Cable for Tram Plunges Again, Clogging Traffic". Newsday. December 20, 1980. p. 10. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 966197027. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Farber, M. A. (January 19, 1981). "Tram Repaired, Still Idle While an Inquiry is Made". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
Butler, William (January 13, 1981). "Roosevelt Island Bus Service Hit". New York Daily News. pp. XQ2. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"Tramway Service Resumes Between Roosevelt Island and Manhattan". The New York Times. March 7, 1981. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023; Howell, Ron (March 7, 1981). "Tram Takes 'Em for a Joy Ride". New York Daily News. p. 4. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"Ferry Is Considered for Roosevelt Island". Newsday. United Press International. February 5, 1981. p. 29. ISSN 2574-5298. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via newspapers.com; Oreskes, Michael; Cosgrove, Vincent (February 10, 1981). "Eye ferry run along E. River". New York Daily News. p. 13. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Strum, Charles (February 28, 1982). "Follow-Up on the News; Tram vs. Ferry". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
Hayden, Van A. (August 13, 1986). "From Roosevelt Island, Ship-to-Shore Service". Newsday. p. 17. ISSN 2574-5298. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"The City; Tram to Be Closed". The New York Times. November 17, 1983. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023; "Tram service suspended". The Reporter Dispatch. November 17, 1983. p. 12. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"Roosevelt tram to close for 2 weeks in August". New York Daily News. July 3, 1985. p. 8. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Anderson, Susan Heller; Dunlap, David W. (August 22, 1986). "New York Day by Day; Tram Riders See Red Again". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
Collins, T. J. (November 21, 1985). "Travel Woes Seen For Roosevelt I." Newsday. p. 39. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 285360789. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation". rioc.ny.gov. November 7, 2014. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
Jackson, Kenneth T., ed. (2010). The Encyclopedia of New York City (2nd ed.). New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 5227. ISBN 978-0-300-11465-2.
^ "Tramway Set to Reopen". Newsday. United Press International. March 2, 1986. p. 32A. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 1640006782.
^ Pawel, Miriam (February 13, 1986). "Roosevelt Tram Shutdown Set". Newsday. p. 5. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 285251372. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Carmody, Deirdre (February 14, 1986). "Insurance Gap to Close Tram to Roosevelt I." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
Pawel, Miriam (February 17, 1986). "Tram Bill Becomes Political Football". Newsday. p. 17. ISSN 2574-5298. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"For Roosevelt Island, Detours on First Day Without Tram". The New York Times. February 16, 1986. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017; Goodman, Adrianne (February 16, 1986). "No Tram to an Island As Insurance Expires". Newsday. p. 21. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 285357957.
"Senate Votes Down Bill For Insuring Tramway". The New York Times. February 26, 1986. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 12, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023; Preston, Jennifer (February 26, 1986). "Leaders In Senate Vow to Pass Tram Bill". Newsday. p. 11. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 285233626.
Raftery, Thomas (March 4, 1986). "On the road again!". New York Daily News. pp. XQ16. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023 – via newspapers.com; Hurtado, Patricia (March 3, 1986). "Roosevelt I. Commuters Welcome Tramway". Newsday. p. 4. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 285428030; "Roosevelt Island Tram Goes Back Into Service". The New York Times. March 4, 1986. p. B1. ISSN 0362-4331. ProQuest 425814634.
Weston, Martin (March 4, 1986). "Senate Balks at Approving Tram Protection". Newsday. p. 17. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 285263386. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"Roosevelt Isle Residents Vote to Fight Complex". Newsday. May 25, 1986. p. 41. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 285387240.
"Roosevelt Tram to Stay Shut While Mishap Is Investigated". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 26, 1989. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023; "Roosevelt I. tram slam hurts 9 riders". Daily News. July 25, 1989. p. 26. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via newspapers.com; Rivera, Elaine (July 25, 1989). "Roosevelt I. Tram Closed for Repairs". Newsday. p. 26. ISSN 2574-5298. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Wright, Chapin (October 30, 1989). "For Roosevelt Island, Worst Fear Confirmed". Newsday. pp. 2, 31. ISSN 2574-5298. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ "Closing it would be a tram shame". New York Daily News. November 16, 1989. pp. MJ3. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Foran, Katherine (November 10, 1989). "Tramway Fans in Wait-and-See". Newsday. pp. 19, 46. ISSN 2574-5298. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ McDonald, Jack (September 4, 1989). "Island of Doubt". New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC. p. 28. ISSN 0028-7369. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via Google Books.
^ Hevesi, Dennis (April 8, 1990). "Roosevelt I. Tram Faces Money Woes". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
Fitzgerald, Owen (April 2, 1990). "Still High Hopes for Tram". New York Daily News. pp. XQ6. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Ramirez, Anthony (September 1, 1996). "Islanders Say Pataki Added Insult to Cut". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
Moritz, Owen (April 30, 1990). "Apple Sauce". New York Daily News. p. 6. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"Postings: Observation Deck; Under the Tram". The New York Times. December 2, 1990. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ Brown, Nicole (May 9, 2016). "A Soaring NYC Landmark: Roosevelt Island Tram Celebrating 40 Years of Service". Newsday. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 1787448977.
"Electrical problem shuts down tramway". The Journal News. October 19, 1993. p. 21. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Howe, Marvine (December 26, 1993). "Neighborhood Report: Roosevelt Island; When Will Troubled Tram Reopen? Give It a Few More Weeks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
Freifeld, Karen (February 14, 1994). "Island Tram Resumes". Newsday. p. 25. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 278737266. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"Once Again, Commuters Are Up in the Air". The New York Times. February 15, 1994. p. B1. ISSN 0362-4331. ProQuest 429452257.
"Roosevelt Is. Tram Refit". Newsday. July 9, 1994. p. A14. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 278769150.
Goldin, Davidson (July 9, 1995). "Neighborhood Report: Roosevelt Island; Island Woos Visitors to Ease Budget Crunch". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
Bazzi, Mohamad (September 21, 1994). "Air Tram to the Art Treasures; Roosevelt I. museum deal". Newsday. p. B07. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 278813177. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Lambert, Bruce (April 16, 1995). "Neighborhood Report: Manhattan Up Close; How the Budget Bite Might Feel". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
Lombardi, Frank (January 18, 1996). "Miller scores on backlash over budget". New York Daily News. p. 35. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Ramirez, Anthony (February 4, 1996). "Neighborhood Report; Roosevelt Islanders Fear Pataki Will Pull Plug". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
"Pataki Sees Tax Boon in Cutting Off Roosevelt Island". All Things Considered. NPR. February 12, 1996. p. 1. ProQuest 190049964.
^ "Roosevelt Island Tram May Start Carrying Ads". The New York Times. May 18, 2002. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Ramirez, Anthony (July 21, 1996). "Neighborhood Report: Roosevelt Island; Pipeline From Albany Looks Drier". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
Ramirez, Anthony (June 8, 1997). "Residents Battle for Budget Details, Fearing Cuts to Tram and Seawall". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ Archibold, Randal C. (January 29, 1998). "Tramless Days on Roosevelt Island". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Rayman, Graham; Morrison, Dan (January 28, 1998). "Terror in the Air". Newsday. pp. A7, A31. ISSN 2574-5298. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via newspapers.com; Dobnik, Verena (January 28, 1998). "Eleven injured as crane hits Roosevelt Island tram". The Jersey Journal. p. 12. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Halbfinger, David M. (February 9, 1998). "After Repairs, Roosevelt Island Tram Resumes Service". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023; Lombardi, Frank (February 9, 1998). "Roosevelt Island Tram Resumes Service Today". New York Daily News. p. 10. ProQuest 313612943.
^ Bearak, Barry (March 3, 1998). "Small-Town Feel, and Feud; Roosevelt Islanders Battle Government Over Cutbacks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
Fitz-Gibbon, Jorge (January 29, 1998). "Tramless Do Without". New York Daily News. p. 18. ISSN 2692-1251. ProQuest 313593652.
Kirby, David (October 22, 2000). "Neighborhood Report: Roosevelt Island; Disabled Say Island Is Even More So With Old Elevators". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Stamler, Bernard (March 7, 1999). "Tempest on the River; It Was Supposed to Be an Urban Utopia. Today, Roosevelt Island Is a Battleground". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
Rutenberg, James (February 18, 1998). "Roosevelt I. Wants Free Tramsfers". New York Daily News. p. 6. ISSN 2692-1251. ProQuest 313602329.
Kugel, Seth (August 19, 2001). "Neighborhood Report: Roosevelt Island; Islanders Plead for Late Trams, To Retain 'Lifeline to Manhattan'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Kinetz, Erika (January 13, 2002). "Neighborhood Report: Roosevelt Island; For Want of a Piece of Cable, a Tram Was Lost". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Kinetz, Erika (March 31, 2002). "Neighborhood Report: Roosevelt Island; The Tram Is Back, With New Parts and the Old (Grateful) Commuters". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ Robin, Joshua (December 10, 2003). "Buses to Bid Farewell to the Venerable Token". Newsday. pp. A16. ISSN 2574-5298. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"Roosevelt Island tram still accepts tokens". Poughkeepsie Journal. April 23, 2003. pp. 9A. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Boland, Ed Jr. (April 27, 2003). "F.Y.I." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ Rayman, Graham (January 2, 2004). "Token Gesture Coming to End / Roosevelt Island to get MetroCard". Newsday. p. A18. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 279735379. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Moynihan, Colin (March 1, 2004). "On the Roosevelt Island Tram, Tokens Finish a Farewell Tour". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ "Roosevelt Island Tram discards subway tokens". The Buffalo News. Associated Press. March 2, 2004. p. 10. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Schapiro, Rich; Becker, Maki (September 3, 2005). "Power Outage Leaves Tram Riders Hanging". New York Daily News. p. 15. ISSN 2692-1251. ProQuest 305999294.
Santora, Marc (September 3, 2005). "Roosevelt Island Tram Stalls, Trapping 100 Riders for 2 Hours". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Melago, Carrie (April 19, 2006). "80 Know How Tram Jam Feels". New York Daily News. p. 6. ISSN 2692-1251. ProQuest 306009741.
Bruchey, Samuel (April 21, 2006). "Tram's air brakes to be investigated". Newsday. p. A02. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 280040629.
^ Luo, Michael (April 20, 2006). "Electrical and Diesel Tram Systems Fail, With Backup Electrical in California". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ Barron, James (April 20, 2006). "Options Were Limited After a Power Surge". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ Bruchey, Samuel (April 20, 2006). "Trauma on the Tram the Investigation, Cause of Failure Up in the Air, Lack of Working Power Systems and Time Needed to Complete Commuters' Rescue Leads City and State to Open Tram Investigation". Newsday. p. A05. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 280035666.
Melago, Carrie; Burke, Kerry; Yaniv, Oren (April 19, 2006). "Drama's Sky-high on Tram. Cops Work Overnight to Save 69 People Stuck on Two Cars". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ Jacobs, Andrew (April 20, 2006). "Tram Rescuers Rigged 2 Untested Ways Out". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Hu, Winnie (April 28, 2006). "Roosevelt Island Tramway Stalls Again During Tests". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Lombardi, Frank (April 28, 2006). "The Tram Thing Still Won't Work". New York Daily News. p. 25. ISSN 2692-1251. ProQuest 306016514.
^ Lueck, Thomas J. (May 19, 2006). "Tram to Get an Overhaul, and an 8-Month Break". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Fenner, Austin (May 19, 2006). "New York Minute. Tram to Stay Disabled Till September, City Sez". New York Daily News. p. 45. ISSN 2692-1251. ProQuest 306035691.
Whitt, Toni (May 16, 2006). "New Electrical System Has Tram Working, but Not Yet Open". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Lemire, Jonathan (May 17, 2006). "New York Minute. Tram's Fate Still Hangs in the Balance". New York Daily News. p. 55. ISSN 2692-1251. ProQuest 306035039.
Lueck, Thomas J. (May 18, 2006). "Metro Briefing | New York: Manhattan: Tram Might Be Running By Fall". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ Sánchez, Ray (May 19, 2006). "Getting Up and Running". Newsday. pp. A08. ISSN 2574-5298. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Lowe, Herbert (September 1, 2006). "Roosevelt Island's tram returning to the sky". Newsday. p. A04. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 280084803; Kadushin, Peter; Singleton, Don (September 2, 2006). "Dax High on Tram. Breakdown's Coolest Kid on 1st Trip – Nanny's Not". New York Daily News. p. 6. ISSN 2692-1251. ProQuest 306078067.
Ramirez, Anthony (August 25, 2006). "Roosevelt Island Tram, Version 2.0, Nears Its Rollout". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
"Manhattan: Tram to Reopen Today". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 1, 2006. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Hernández, Javier C. (June 14, 2008). "What Is Life Without a Tram? Residents Are Getting a Taste". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Deutsch, Kevin (March 1, 2010). "Roosevelt Island residents irate over six month lag without tram to Manhattan". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ Kaminer, Ariel (October 8, 2010). "Roosevelt Island's Flying Buses to Return Soon". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Traina, Meredith (February 28, 2010). "Roosevelt Island Tram Suspended For Major Modernization". WPIX. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
"Roosevelt Island Tram to Shut Down for 6 Months". NBC New York. February 25, 2010. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ Clark, Roger (March 1, 2010). "Roosevelt Island Tram Shuts Down For Renovation". Spectrum News NY1. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
Kilgannon, Corey (February 27, 2010). "Chronicle of a Changing City". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Lombardi, Frank (June 5, 2010). "Crane Delays Tram Fix". New York Daily News. p. 12. ISSN 2692-1251. ProQuest 357330098.
^ Corso, Phil; Dillon, Nancy (October 9, 2010). "Roosevelt I. Tram Hung Up Until Nov". New York Daily News. p. 14. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"Second Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin Attached To Cables". Spectrum News NY1. October 22, 2010. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
Spitz, Rebecca (November 23, 2010). "Roosevelt Island Tram Gets Wired Up; Undergoes Test Run". Spectrum News NY1. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
MacDonald, Kerri (November 15, 2010). "A Test Drive on the Roosevelt Island Tram". City Room. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
^ Clark, Roger (November 30, 2010). "Roosevelt Island Tram Once Again Running Over The East River". Spectrum News NY1. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
Grynbaum, Michael M. (November 30, 2010). "Roosevelt Island Tramway Reopens After Renovations". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 18, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
^ Flegenheimer, Matt (December 20, 2011). "New Cornell Campus May Awaken Roosevelt Island". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
Warerkar, Tanay (April 13, 2016). "The Roosevelt Island Tram Station Is Getting a Makeover". Curbed NY. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
"Roosevelt Island tram platform renovations begin this week". Spectrum News NY1. July 24, 2017. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023; Colangelo, Lisa L. (July 17, 2017). "Roosevelt Island Tram reducing service during repairs". amNewYork. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023; Weaver, Shaye (July 17, 2017). "Roosevelt Island Tram Repairs Start Next Week, Reducing Service to One Car". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Hughes, C. J. (October 4, 2017). "Roosevelt Island: Part of Manhattan, but Apart from It". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
"Roosevelt Island Residents Say Tram Repairs Are Creating Nightmare Delays". CBS New York. September 1, 2017. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
"Back to Full Capacity: Tram Gearbox Rebuilt". Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. November 7, 2014. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Performance Measure Report as of March 31, 2019 (Report). Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. March 31, 2019. p. 3. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Performance Measure Report as of March 31, 2022 (Report). Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. March 31, 2022. p. 3. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ Miller, Ben (April 13, 2022). "Roosevelt Island Tramway station in Manhattan gets $7 million facelift". New York Business Journals. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
"MTA to implement new OMNY vending machines this summer". News 12 – The Bronx. April 25, 2023. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
Brosnan, Erica (April 25, 2023). "OMNY vending machines coming this summer, officials say". Spectrum News NY1. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
^ "OMNY tap-to-pay system comes to Roosevelt Island". Spectrum News NY1. August 25, 2023. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
^ Brachfeld, Ben (August 24, 2023). "Roosevelt Island Tram outfitted with OMNY tap-to-pay system". amNewYork. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
Ahern, Jack (September 14, 2023). "As F Train Remains Rerouted, Bottleneck Forms at Roosevelt Island Tram". www.ourtownny.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Kriegstein, Brittany; Cohen, Sasha Linden (December 3, 2024). "Roosevelt Islanders say their tram is overrun with tourists". Gothamist. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
Feiden, Douglas (September 13, 1993). "Construction VP builds new plan for a big REIT". Crain's New York Business. Vol. 9, no. 37. p. 13. ProQuest 219142162.
^ Urban Design. RC Publications. 1976. p. 19. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via Google Books.
Lambert, Bruce (December 5, 1992). "Lev Zetlin, 74, an Expert on Structural Disasters". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ "First urban tram opens in New York" (PDF). Progressive Architecture. Vol. 57. July 1976. p. 27. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ "Tram". Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. November 7, 2014. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
^ Popular Mechanics 1976, p. 114.
^ "Aerial Tramway Vital Statistics". Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
^ "POMA Launches New Aerial Tramway in New York City" (Press release). PR Newswire. November 10, 2010. ProQuest 763193337.
Popular Mechanics 1976, p. 52.
Popular Mechanics 1976, pp. 52–53.
"Tramway Plaza". New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
"Manhattan Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
Popular Mechanics 1976, pp. 112–114.
Alshalalfah 2014, p. 5.
^ "Manhattan-Roosevelt Island Tramway". Calcedo Construction Corporation. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ Stern, Mellins & Fishman 1995, p. 655.
"It Sounds Like A Fairy Tale But it's true: There's a great new affordable-housing plan for Roosevelt Island". Newsday. July 18, 1990. p. 52. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 278324711; Sheftell, Jason (January 25, 2008). "Roosevelt Island. Is This the Start of a New Look for the Neighborhood?". New York Daily News. p. 4. ISSN 2692-1251. ProQuest 306162548.
Bashan, Yoni (April 3, 2014). "Save Your Change: This Ride on New York's Roosevelt Island is Free". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
"Queens Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. August 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
^ Popular Mechanics 1976, p. 112.
^ "Modern Living: The Little Apple". Time. May 24, 1976. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
^ Cohen, Billie (January 15, 2008). "Roosevelt Island Tram". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
U.S. Department of Transportation 1981, p. 16.
^ Egelhof, Joseph (May 19, 1976). "Whee! Oooh! What a way to commute!". Chicago Tribune. p. 6. ISSN 1085-6706. ProQuest 171354444.
^ Haddon, Heather (March 25, 2010). "No 'straps' left to hang from in city". AM New York. p. 21. ProQuest 237701194.
Brosh, Brendan (August 9, 2008). "Straps Get Scrapped. After Hanging Tough on Tram, Last of Transit Handles Set to Bite Dust". New York Daily News. p. 14. ISSN 2692-1251. ProQuest 306212374. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Wiener, Caryn Eve (August 7, 1983). "On the High Road". Newsday. p. 4. ISSN 2574-5298. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Stone, David (December 30, 2019). "Sad Death Of The First Roosevelt Island Tram, 2010". Roosevelt Island, New York, Daily News. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
^ "State-Of-The-Art Roosevelt Island Tram Wows At Debut". CBS New York. November 30, 2010. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ Furse, Jane H. (November 29, 2010). "Tram Revamp Set to Soar to Roosevelt Is". New York Daily News. p. 2. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Update on Roosevelt Island Tram Operations From Tram Operator Poma and Rioc President Haynes. Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (Report). November 7, 2014. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ Parco, Nicholas (May 17, 2016). "A look at the evolution of the Roosevelt Island tram as the celebrated sky marvel turns 40". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ Alshalalfah 2014, p. 6.
^ Vuchic, Vukan R. (2007). Urban Transit Systems and Technology. Wiley. p. 494. ISBN 978-0-471-75823-5. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via Google Books.
Spitz, Rebecca (September 24, 2010). "Roosevelt Island Tram Renovation Nearly Complete". Spectrum News NY1. Archived from the original on September 29, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
^ Yarvin, Brian (November 25, 2011). "How safe are ski lifts and cable cars, anyway?". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
Welding Design & Fabrication. Vol. 49. Industrial Publication. 1976. p. 75. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via Google Books.
Popular Mechanics 1976, p. 53.
^ "What Went Wrong: East River Rescue". Popular Mechanics. September 30, 2009. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
Lewis, John (February 17, 1976). "Aerial Tram Sails Smoothly – Except for Slight Hangup". New York Daily News. pp. ML7. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Jacobson, Aileen (November 5, 2014). "The Quiet Manhattan: Roosevelt Island". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
"Roosevelt Island Aerial Tramway System Facts". Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. November 7, 2014. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
Goldman, John J. (February 2, 1982). "New York's 'Little Apple': Problems Ahead in Paradise?". Hartford Courant. p. 8. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Schneider, Daniel B. (March 9, 1997). "F.Y.I." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
Lichtenstein, Grace (November 13, 2005). "Are Trams Going the Way of Wooden Skis?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
McManus, Tracey (January 30, 2016). "United States a latecomer to the notion of gondolas as transportation". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
Reddy, Sumathi (June 29, 2012). "Little Ones, the Subway and the Law". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
^ "MTA Announces OMNY Launched at Roosevelt Island Tramway". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. August 24, 2023. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ "Everything you need to know about fares and tolls in New York". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 16, 2022. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ New York City Transit (October 1, 2020). "NYCT and MTA Bus Company tariffs". pp. 16, 35. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
"FAQs". Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. November 7, 2014. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
Wolfe, Jonathan (May 17, 2016). "New York Today: Toasting Our Tramway". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
King, Martin (March 17, 1977). "Tramway's Easy Rider". New York Daily News. p. 8. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
"The 2005 Transit Strike: Transportation Impacts and Analysis" (PDF). New York City Department of Transportation. February 2006. p. 30. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 8, 2017. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
Kadushin, Peter; Donohue, Pete (September 9, 2006). "Riders: It's Tram-tastic". New York Daily News. p. 8. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Roberts, Daniel; McShane, Larry (February 26, 2010). "Roosevelt Island tram hangs it up for 6 months, leaving locals without transportation". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Public Authority Annual Report Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2012 (Report). Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. March 31, 2023. p. 17. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
Winkleman, Michael (September 15, 1975). "Cable Vision". New York Magazine. Vol. 8. New York Media, LLC. pp. 34–35. ISSN 0028-7369.
"Going by Cable Car". The New York Times. May 23, 1976. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
"Manhattan's touch of the Alps". The Guardian. April 24, 1976. p. 13. ProQuest 185979608.
Goldberger, Paul (1979). The City Observed, New York: A Guide to the Architecture of Manhattan. The Visible city. Random House. p. 337. ISBN 978-0-394-50450-6.
Schneider, Steve (January 7, 1989). "Roosevelt Island". Newsday. p. 21. ISSN 2574-5298. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
Goldberger, Paul (April 8, 1990). "Architecture View; an Island of Idealism in a Sea of Disdain". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
Wells, David (May 17, 2003). "Manhattan's other isle". Financial Times. p. 4. ProQuest 249441756.
Dunning, Jennifer (April 30, 2006). "Riders in the Sky". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Plitt, Amy (September 20, 2017). "Roosevelt Island Tram is New York's coolest way to get around". Curbed NY. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
Scarborough, Joey; Colangelo, Lisa L. (October 10, 2013). "A commute with a view! Visionaries plan a Queens-to-Central Park tramway". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
"Entrepreneur Proposes Aerial Gondolas To Bridge Brooklyn & Manhattan". CBS New York. September 16, 2014. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
"'New mega-attraction' kills the beast". The Miami Herald. August 18, 2002. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
"How King Kong Came to Life in Orlando". The Christian Science Monitor. June 5, 1990. p. 14. ProQuest 291175789; Stewart, Barbara (September 2, 1990). "King Kong". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 96. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ Boland, Ed Jr (April 27, 2003). "F.Y.I." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Maslin, Janet (April 10, 1981). "'Nighthawks' With Sylvester Stallone". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
Taylor, Clarke (March 18, 1980). "Stallone New Film Angers Roosevelt Island Residents". Los Angeles Times. p. G6. ISSN 0458-3035. ProQuest 162705130; Edmonds, Richard (March 18, 1980). "Stallone Flick Grounds Roosevelt Tram Riders". Daily News. p. 4. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via newspapers.com; Smolowe, Jill (March 15, 1980). "Movie to Shut Tram 3 Days". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
Anderson, John (May 3, 2002). "'Spider-Man' Is Just Marvel-ous / A fun spin on action, humor, romance". Newsday. p. B11. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 279530720.
Gill, John Freeman (July 17, 2005). "... And on Roosevelt Island, Being Afraid, Really Afraid". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
Kennedy, Randy (July 11, 2004). "A New York 'Fear Factor'? Try That Last Hot Dog". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023; Hatty, Michele (November 7, 2004). "Is Fear a Factor?". New York Daily News. p. 204. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023 – via newspapers.com.

Sources

"Airborne Commuters Take a Disneyland Ride to Work". Popular Mechanics. Vol. 146. July 1976. pp. 52–53, 112, 114 – via Internet Archive.
Alshalalfah, Baha; Shalaby, Amer; Dale, Steven (March 2014). "Experiences with Aerial Ropeway Transportation Systems in the Urban Environment". Journal of Urban Planning and Development. 140 (1). doi:10.1061/(ASCE)UP.1943-5444.0000158. ISSN 0733-9488. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022.
Stern, Robert A. M.; Mellins, Thomas; Fishman, David (1995). New York 1960: Architecture and Urbanism Between the Second World War and the Bicentennial. New York: Monacelli Press. ISBN 1-885254-02-4. OCLC 32159240. OL 1130718M.
Transit Technology Evaluation: A Literature Capsule. U.S. Department of Transportation, Urban Mass Transportation Administration. 1981. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023 – via Google Books.

External links

External images
Manhattan entrance (Second Avenue and 60th Street) on Google Maps Street View
Manhattan station inside from Google Maps Street View
Roosevelt Island entrance from Google Maps Street View
Car interior from Google Maps Street View

Official website

v t e Roosevelt Island
Manhattan, New York City
Places	Blackwell House Blackwell Island Light Chapel of the Good Shepherd City Hospital Coler Specialty Hospital The Girl Puzzle The Octagon Smallpox Hospital Strecker Memorial Laboratory Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park
Education	Cornell Tech Child School and Legacy High School
Transportation	63rd Street Tunnel Subway station Queensboro Bridge Roosevelt Island Bridge Tramway
Governance	Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department
See also: Manhattan Community Board 8

Transportation in New York City

Public transit

Private transit

Major
construction
projects

Currently operating	7 Subway Extension East Side Access Fulton Center Moynihan Train Hall Second Avenue Subway History World Trade Center Transportation Hub
Canceled	Access to the Region's Core AirTrain LaGuardia Lower Manhattan–Jamaica/JFK Transportation Project Proposed expansion of the New York City Subway Program for Action Staten Island Tunnel
Proposed/Future	Brooklyn–Queens Connector Gateway Program Penn Station Access Staten Island light rail Interborough Express

Traffic proposals

Operators

Public

Current	NYC Department of Transportation Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bridges and Tunnels New York City Transit Authority Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Defunct	Board of Transportation Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation Independent Subway System Interborough Rapid Transit Company Manhattan Railway Company

Private

Organizations

Other

United States Tramways

Commuter Tramways

Oregon	Portland Aerial Tram
New York	Roosevelt Island Tramway

Private Tramways

Alaska	Goldbelt Tram
California	Palisades Tahoe Aerial Tram Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
New Mexico	Sandia Peak Tramway
Texas	Wyler Aerial Tramway

Crossings of the East River

Upstream
63rd Street Tunnel

Roosevelt Island Tramway

Downstream
60th Street Tunnel

Categories: