According to the MTA, the Roosevelt Island Subway Station entrance will be closed Friday September 5 through Monday morning September 8 for repairs to the front door.
The MTA constructed a temporary, non-ADA accessible, entrance with stairs to the station. The MTA signage advises those who can’t access the Roosevelt Island subway station because of the stairs to take the Q102 bus to the 21st Queensbridge F station. Unfortunately, the Q 102 bus no longer goes to that station.
I asked the MTA yesterday:
Any comment from the MTA regarding reason for the Roosevelt Island subway entrance door replacement this coming weekend?
Also, is there any way to make the temporary entrance accessible for people in wheelchairs or otherwise can’t go up or down stairs?
An MTA spokesperson replied:
It’s for door replacement.
I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Communications Director Bryant Daniels?
Do you know what the reason is for construction at the Subway entrance? Why is MTA moving entrance? Speculation from some is to discourage shoplifters running straight into current entrance.
Mr Bryant answered:
No, just fixing broken doors. The current doors are being held open by caution tape. They’re doing a full replacement.
As of Friday at 2 PM the MTA removed the temporary entrance with steps and was in the process of replacing it with another one.
Don’t know why the first temporary entrance is being replaced.
During the September 3 Community Board 8 Transportation Committee meeting, MTA representatives reviewed the upcoming plan to switch Roosevelt Island F Train service to the M Train during Weekdays and also reported on renovations to the station, installation of platform safety barriers as well as the upcoming work on the subway entrance.
This is so typical of disconnected uncoordinated bureaucracy. MTA posts wrong information and RIOC is silent about any weekend red bus replacement service. Sure, take the Tram if you can get on it.