Reported in December 2012 that Roosevelt Island Operating Corp ( RIOC ) Transportation Manager Cy Opperman
RIOCTransportation Manager Cy Opperman at Red Bus Stop From Jonathan Kalkin at Yfrog suggesting eliminating the Roosevelt Island Red Bus Fare:
… Eliminate dollar bill in fare box because it causes jams in the fare box and increases lines to get on the bus. Dollar bills are also filthy. (Blue gloves that are put on to count the dollar bills are no longer blue when count is finished)
Mr Opperman suggested that it would be cheaper to run the bus without a fare but RIOC Directors are not likely to go along with that suggestion. According to RIOC Chief Financial Officer Steve Chironis, Red Bus annual revenue is $300 hundred thousand from riders and $100 Thousand from the Octagon Express for a total of $400 thousand annually. The annual Red Bus expenses are $1.2 million for a net annual loss of $800 thousand….
I learned at yesterday’s RIOC Board of Directors meeting that Mr. Opperman’s suggestion will be implemented and the Roosevelt Island Red Bus will soon be free. According to the RIOC Proposed FY 2014-15 Budget (Page 4):
… the proposed budget includes the elimination of the bus fares and associated cost including the transfer of two positions associated with the collection and depositing of bus revenues to fill existing and new positions. Furthermore, the parking rate is proposed to be doubled….
According to RIOC, eliminating the bus fare and doubling parking rates will improve the Roosevelt Island Red Bus efficiency, reduce traffic jams on Main Street and encourage greater use of the Motorgate Garage.