Waiting Roosevelt Island Residents Ask Where’s the Red Bus, Why Are They Not Running On Schedule?

Earlier this week I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Assistant VP of Communications & Government Affairs Bryant Daniels:

Have there been any problems with the Red Bus service the last few days. People have been complaining of long wait times?

For example, according to Roosevelt Island Tipsters this week:

• Why are red buses not running?? Out of order again? Only 2 busses are running right now, and both are close, meaning people at the other side have to wait for long.
• Waiting in front of the library for 17 minutes now for a red bus. The service has gotten progressively worse the last few months. This is why whomever runs RIOC should be forced to live on the island so they see these things. Finally showing up, 18 minutes wait.
• My child has been waiting for long after school..”.  And “Does anyone know if the red bus schedule has changed? There used to be one that left the octagon at 7:22 that no longer comes.
• Some red buses keep departing early. With only a few running they should keep to the schedule,  bc once you miss that bus the next one is in 15 minutes. Who do I have to write to so this issue can be addressed.
• I just got back after being away for 2 weeks, is something goin on with the red bus? 9:15 never showed up at the Octagon and according to the tracker theyre nowhere nearby?

RIOC announced yesterday, October 16:

Dear Roosevelt Island Community,

To streamline Red Bus service, beginning Saturday, November 1, we will eliminate two rarely used Red Bus stops at the island’s southern end:

• The stop on the east side of the Cornell Tech campus
• The stop between Sportspark and Tram Plaza on the west side

Both stops (pictured below) are located very close to more active stops—near the east entrance to Sportspark and next to The Graduate Hotel—which will remain part of the Red Bus route.

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Removing these underused stops will help buses run faster and with fewer delays, without compromising residents’ access to key locations on the island.

Signage will be posted at the affected stops to alert riders of the upcoming change, and remember you can always track the Red Bus on your phone by downloading the Transit app.

Thank you.

-RIOC Transportation

Mr Daniels added today:

We are aware of recent concerns regarding the Red Bus service and have been working to address them. Earlier this week, we temporarily reduced morning rush hour service to three buses to accommodate some unexpected maintenance.

We expect to return to the normal four-bus schedule as soon as possible next week. No other changes have been made to the service, including the schedule.

Please also note that, beginning Saturday, November 1, we will be eliminating two rarely used stops on the Red Bus line — one near the Cornell Tech campus on the East Side and another near Sportspark on the West Side. We hope these changes will help further improve service and reduce wait times.

What’s more, as we continue to invest in our bus operations, we are also in the process of a procuring a new hybrid bus to enhance our fleet and further supplement service needs

Here’s the RIOC Red Bus Schedule.