The Community Board 8 (CB 8) Roosevelt Island (RI) Committees held a very informative meeting via Zoom last evening hosted by RI Committee Chair Paul Krikler with our NY State Senator Liz Kreuger who answered questions and discussed local issues for more than an hour with Roosevelt Island residents.
Most of the questions were about finding a solution for the overcrowding and long lines at the Roosevelt Island Tram. Ms Krueger expressed interest in the RI Tram Quick Pass proposal now being considered by Governor Hochul’s office and she promised to follow up with the Governor’s Office to see what, if any, progress is being made with the idea. Residents also asked and discussed ideas about building a pedestrian bridge from Roosevelt Island to Manhattan and bringing back the elevator from the Queensboro Bridge to Roosevelt Island.
Ms Kreuger reported being told that a new RIOC President is expected to be appointed before September and noted that 2 new RIOC Board Directors were appointed.
Here’s the full CB 8 RI committee discussion with Ms Kreuger.
There is no good reason I can see why we don’t have an elevator up from RI to the Queensboro bridge, as in the distant past. Yes, it costs money, needs insurance coverage, etc.. But why should it cost what Ms. Kreuger says about the price of new subway/handicapped elevators elsewhere in the city, when the support structures are mostly already there. One should be able to simply fasten a solid, fully operating elevator and elevator shaft to the outside of the bridge; one that would connect the bridge’s current walking/cycling pathway to ground level on RI near the tram.
Until the existing decrepit infrastructure is maintained, these ideas are a distraction and hold us back from enjoying the full potential of this wonderful island and community.
I’m not sure where to find project status for and would like updates from our representatives on:
– Eleanor’s Pier
– Fixing the decrepit roadways along Main Street
– New jail-like fencing along Main Street (starting at Zhongzhong Noodles) – is this temporary / construction-related?
– Repainting and repaving the Roosevelt Island bridge=
– Steam Plant