A Stairway to Heaven Returned

Quite quietly escalator ES416 returned to service this week at the Roosevelt Island subway station connecting the lower mezzanine to the upper mezzanine. It was slated to reopen September 19th a date that came and was gone with no fan fare or explanation as to why service had not been restored. The escalator had been taken out of service I believe in early to mid July from what I recall.

No big fuss was made by this blog as generally ES415 right next to it was up and running most days allowing riders to make their way up towards street level (or at least half way there).

All I can say is we generally take the escalators for granted until that time or two when they are out and you are carrying more bags than you would want to climbing the steps out after a long day.

Does this post have any real point other than to thank the MTA for finally finishing this project? Not really.

NYPD K9 Unit Hopefuls Tested at Roosevelt Island Subway Station

For those of you that were wondering why the NYPD was visiting the local Roosevelt Island subway station this morning, in large numbers, the answer comes courtesy of RIOC Public Safety Director Keith Guerra:

"The Officers at the Roosevelt Island Station were from the NYPD Canine Unit. They were having their Agility Tryout for prospective candidates for the K-9 Unit. .... Running up and down the stairs & escalators. Dogs were not being used because the dogs are assigned to specific Officers and only they can train with that particular dog. These are candidates trying to get into the unit and receive a dog of their own."

It would have been fun to see a few of the dogs this morning but why make them sweat out the heat when its only the humans being tested.

Out of Service But Under Construction?

Has anybody actually seen Escalator ES 416 at the Roosevelt Island subway station (F Train) being worked on by an MTA escalator repair crew? The escalator connecting the lower mezzanine to the upper mezzanine has been out of service for at least 2 to 3 weeks already but I have yet to see any work being done.

One morning I saw a few workers taking measurements but that was it. As long as the adjoining escalator ES 415 is working for rush hours allowing travelers to avoid walking up the steps we are ok. But it does get crowded sometimes. I can't complain too much but was curious to ask if during off hours anyone has seen work?

'09 Subway Ridership Down at RI Subway Station

The NYC Transit Authority has released their annual ridership results for 2009, and according to a graphic above, accompanying today's NYT article,, the ridership at the Roosevelt Island subway station decreased from 2008 by 2.8 percent with average daily riders at 5,138. This statistic alone seems low based on the number of residents that work off island. The station was ranked 235 out of 422 stations based on ridership. The full station by station data is available on the NYCTA website linked HERE.

Do you agree that this stat is low? Or does it seem right based on your experiences this past year?

Subway Complaints? New Manager More Accessible than Current Superintendent?

According to published sources, the MTA as part of a reorganization is naming individual managers to each of the subways 36 subway lines including the F Train which services Roosevelt Island.

Will that mean we will have a better access to complain or congratulate a real human if we want that direct contact? This remains to be seen as I have never heard of anyone being able to contact Crythen Langhorne, the current superintendant for the Roosevelt Island station.

Improv Everywhere: Subway Art Gallery

On the same day Improv Everywhere ran their MP3 experiment here on Roosevelt Island, Agents of IE also set up an underground art gallery on the subway platform giving residents and visitors a taste of an earlier event they ran at another "platform gallery". As opposed to that earlier experiment we did not get the full black tie treatment (see linked post & video) but the photos and "art descriptions" of the local installations were still fun to read and see today.

Thanks to fleepy_99 from Flickr for permission to use her photos and text. To see her complete photo set of the show link here.

"This piece, inspired by the "The Treachery of Images" pipe painting by René Magritte, mirrors that famous work with the suggestion that although the sign claims the availability of assistance through the mediation of an intercom, the assistance which is described will not be forthcoming, just as the pipe in the painting was not, in fact, a pipe: just an emotionally unsatisfying painting of a pipe."

"This surrealist piece plays on the idea that the mystery of what is inside sparks the imagination more than the reality of what is inside. Perhaps concealing an electrical panel, or labyrinthine underground passageways, this locked space nevertheless fascinates us, introducing the possibility that the unseen space contains hidden wonders"

"These speakers, eerily silent, engage the viewer in a peculiar non-discourse as a commentary on the ineffable nature of technologically-mediated communication within the quasi-unreal space of commuting.
"

"Intended to be purely ornamental in contrast to the escalators, these antiquated sequentially raised steps draw the viewer to inescapable conclusions about the mechanically-mediated nature of movement in technological society."

Escalators Reversing Directions or Not Working ?

What’s the deal with our local Roosevelt Island subway escalators?

ES 414 which normally runs down from the Upper to the Lower Mezzanine alternatively shut down for repairs to running "up" to being shut down again.

ES 415 which normally runs up from the Lower to the Upper Mezz has been running as a down escalator and is now also out of service.

ES 411 which normally runs down and ES 412 which normally runs up are both reversed. (They run between the street level to the Upper Mezzanine).

And weren’t we promised some time ago that two of the four escalators which run between the Lower Mezzanine and the platforms would run down to the platforms during the morning rush hours? I think that was in effect for what maybe two weeks. The idea was that the station agent would use their key and put all four back into an up mode after the rush hour concluded.

Down Escalator ES 411 Out of Service until June 9th

At least when we found the down escalator out of service this morning they had one of the normally UP escalators running down for the morning commute.

Signage Better at Subway Racks Regarding Overnight Bike Ban

It appears that the ongoing overnight bicycle ban at the Subway racks is working allowing a greater number of spots to be available to commuters biking to the Roosevelt Island subway station. The signage also has increased warning bike owners to not leave their bikes out overnight.

If as earlier reported it is true that part of this began due to complaints of the Riverwalk management I wonder if parking in their bike rooms (fee based) has increased or has this simply lead to a greater number of local Riverwalk bikes being paraded through their lobbies and elevators tracking dirt and grime along the way.

I certainly have not seen an increase in bikes locked to street signs and other immovable objects which RIOC also wanted to stop but then again I don’t ever recall that being too much of a problem.

It Has Begun...17 Bikes Removed Overnight

It has begun. The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department has begun enforcement of the overnight ban on bikes being parked at the subway and tram bike racks. So if you are looking for your bike (17 of you should be accordin g to the below e-mails) and you missed the whole tagging process get yourself over to the PSD office at 504 Main Street to reclaim your bike within the next day or so.

No word yet on increased signage although I keep asking.

-----Original Message-----

From: rooseveltisland360@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 18:13:25
To: Keith Guerra
Cc: Estrella Suarez; Fernando Martinez; Sergeant Desk; Steve Shane
Subject: Re: Bike racks - enforcement start date ?

Keith -

Thank you for your reply. I am assuming that the statistics will prospectively be added to the daily public safety reports on an ongoing basis.

Any word on increased signage beyong the clipped laminated letters being posted at the racks?

Thank you again
Eric

-----Original Message-----

From: Keith Guerra
Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 13:52:45
To: rooseveltisland360@gmail.com
Cc: Estrella Suarez; Fernando Martinez; Sergeant Desk; Stephen Shane

Subject: Re: Bike racks - enforcement start date ?

Eric

So far, over the last 2 nights, 17 bikes have been taken to Public Safety. One of the bikes was retrieved by the owner, without incident. There were 3 bikes that were tagged and not removed as of yet. Those had special bike locks on them and require a special tool to remove. They will be removed tonight - if they are still there.

We are noticing that many residents have removed their bikes on their own and there is now plenty of room for those that wish to use the bike racks.

Keith Guerra, Director
Roosevelt Island
Department of Public Safety

http://www.rioc.ny.gov/


----Original Message----
Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 18:13:25
To: Keith Guerra
Subject: Re: Bike racks - enforcement start date ?

Dear Keith -

May I ask how many bicycles were impounded due to last night enforcement of the overnight ban? I also noticed that while most bikes which were tagged previously were removed at least or two remained which had tags previously. May I ask what caused these bikes to be spared?

Do the enacted procedures now include a day count based on the tag date before a bike is removed? I had thought this was to be.strict interpretation of no overnight parking between 2am and 5am.

Thank you,

Eric

Still There....?

As of 8:10 am the tagged bikes were still chained to the bike racks outside the Roosevelt Island subway station.

No word as to what has delayed the expected enforcement.

Perhaps the thoughts were to wait a day for possible Memorial Day vacationers to return home? Stay tuned....

Subway/Tram Bike Racks - Enforcement Starts Tonight

This is it folks. Starting tonight at 2:00 am bikes left overnight at the two racks by the Roosevelt Island subway station and the one rack by the subway will be cleared of any bikes not retrieved prior to that time. All bikes to be cleared have been tagged giving them notice, theoretically, of their impending removal and very short storage before being given to charity.

------Original Message------
From: Keith Guerra
To: Roosevelt Island 360
Cc: Estrella Suarez
Cc: Fernando Martinez
Cc: Sergeant Desk
Sent: May 25, 2009 5:06 PM
Subject: Re: Bike racks - enforcement start date ?

Tuesday morning 2:00-5:00.

-----Original Message-----
From: rooseveltisland360@gmail.com
Cc: Martinez, Fernando
To: Guerra, Keith
Sent: 5/25/2009 5:03:42 PM
Subject: Bike racks - enforcement start date ?

Dear Keith -

Does the enforcement of the bike ban on the subway bike racks start tonight Tuesday the 26th at 2am or Wednesday the 27th at 2am ? Last week Mr. Shane stated next week but with the holiday I was unsure of the exact date and the tags don't give a date other than May 18th.

Thank you,
Eric

Clarification Post Regarding Columbia Studio Subway Analysis

In my prior post referring to the Columbia studio regarding Roosevelt Island transportation issues I stated that for the study to be relevant regarding crowding on the platforms and cars that more than one day was needed to test conditions. I had incorrectly stated that the students only tested for one day but also stated my recollection could be wrong.

Well I admit I was wrong and the below emails and photos prove out that the students did indeed witness three morning rush hours which they documented. The photo montages also, as discussed below, indicate times when riders were indeed left behind on the Manhattan bound platform. I can't argue with the images portrayed on these images unless I can prove nobody went to the work on those days.

I still believe overall that during the 815am to 845am period, that the trains and platform are overcrowded. I have no solution to this problem other than encouraging residents to arrive on the platform earlier as I TRY to do as I have encountered little issue at any time before 8:10am.

Again I thank the students for their work although I disagree with their conclusions in this segment of their studio. By next Friday, the students will be putting up a website with a link to their final report in full detail and recommendations. You can be sure it will be linked to from here.

From: David Krulewitch
Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 12:46:58 -0400
To: Roosevelt Island360; Dr. Floyd Lapp

Eric

Here are the photomontages of the 3 surveys we did on Roosevelt Island in the am peak. If you look closely, the times with an asterisk are the times not all people could get on the train. I hope that clarifies some things. Also, we attempted to get the data from the MTA regarding how many times these trains do not run on time, but they did not have that data (shocking!). Feel free to post these photomontages.

David


From: David Krulewitch
Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 12:46:58 -0400
To: Roosevelt Island 360;; Dr. Floyd Lapp

Hi Eric,

I actually was the point person on the subway, we will be submitting a final report to RIOC next week which will flesh out the subway data in more detail. Just to make clear what my conclusions were: If the subway runs on schedule there is little to no overcrowding at the Roosevelt Island Subway stop. The train is scheduled to run 15 times an hour (every 4 minutes). There are only serious problems if trains get backed up in queens. We did three surveys and two of the surveys there were no delays because 15 trains ran in an hour, and on the 3rd survey only 9 trains ran in an hour and there were significant delays. I will have more analysis for you soon, but the report is still in a draft stage, and we have to get a bunch of stuff done by next Thursday.

David

Update: Wheelchair Access from Platform into Subway

The MTA's capital project to raise a portion of the Roosevelt Island subway platform , at the center of each platform, to allow wheelchairs to easily enter subway cars is progressing and as per the above picture indicates it may be ahead ahead of schedule.

You may recall from my earlier post on March 12, that the platforms in some areas are about a 1/2 inch too low making it difficult for mnay wheelchair bound residentst to simply roll into the subway cars requiring them to ask nearby individuals to push and even lift their chairs in some instances.

According to Deidre Parker, an MTA Spokesperson, the project, on both Queens and manhattan Bound platforms is scheduled to be complete by April 30, 2009.

------Original Message------
From: Deirdre Parker (MTA Spokesperson)
To: Roosevelt Island 360
Sent: Mar 31, 2009 11:55 AM
Subject: RE: Platform Construction

The centers of both platforms are covered with plywood. This plywood is painted safety yellow which allows customers to notice the unevenness of the platform. This is the area of the platform where Station Maintenance will be installing the recently approved new ADA Tiles for the ADA boarding area. This work is only done on weekends and is scheduled to be completed by April 30, 2009.

Can 11 Subway Cars Platform at Roosevelt Island?

NY1 is reporting that the MTA ran a test 11 car train through the system last night.

Can 11 cars platform at Roosevelt Island?

I don't believe so.

The answer per the first comment provided is NO so the test by the MTA was in essence as one SubChat contributor stated an "April's Fools" joke by the MTA on the public unless stations were modified to increase the accessible lenth of the platforms needed.

Subway Update re 3/26-4/10 Weeknight Disruptions

Update per MTA website: The service changes to the F Line described below, between 3/26 and 4/10, are only in effect on Tuesdays through Fridays Midnight through 5:am.

179 St-bound "F Trains" trains run on the "V Line" from 47-50 Sts to Queens Plaza Late night.

For service from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island and 21 St-Queensbridge, take the "F Train" to Roosevelt Av and transfer to a Coney Island-bound "F Train" .

-----Original Message-----
From: Parker, Deirdre, MTA Spokesperson.
Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:27:41
To: <rooseveltisland360@Gmail.Com>
Subject: RE: FW: Roosevelt Islands

Please be advised that due to emergency work, there will be no northbound F service at Roosevelt Island on weeknights from 12:01 AM - 5AM, March 26th to April 10th. We apologize for any inconvenience thismay cause.

Through the Looking Glass....

My daughter keeps asking me to take her to see Coraline which is in some ways an update of Alice in Wonderland. Sometimes it feels like coming to Roosevelt Island was like stepping through the looking glass. Of course without the Cheshire Cat.

Some would say that living on an Island controlled by a State authority sitting semi-outside the domain of New York City is a bit out of the ordinary and comparable to Alice's Tea Party but life would be too dull otherwise don't you think?

Original photo by ni_san_shijp on Flickr.

63rd Street Tunnel Subway Stations No Longer MTA Newest

Since October 28, 1989, the stations that make up the 63rd Street Tunnel extension, including Lex/63rd , Roosevelt Island, and 21st St Queensbridge had the distinction of being the newest stations in the NYC Transit Authority subway system. That answer is no longer accurate.

Today the MTA opened up a new station at South Ferry replacing the old one. One less trivia question where Roosevelt Island is the answer.

For Subway Stairs - We're Counted Third !

Apparently a runner from the Prospect Park Track Club who likes climbing subway stairs has counted the Roosevelt Island subway station's steps and placed us third in total stairs among comparable stations:

>209 steps - Lex/63rd Street

>175 steps - Smith Street

>159 steps - Roosevelt Island

So do staircases step up onto little staircases to accept their gold, silver, and bronze medals?

For a video of what it is like to walk down the Roosevelt Island stairs here you are. Note this video was shot before the current restoration was completed of the half the escalators and once completed the stairs no longer felt so closed by the construction walls . Also the lighting is much much better than the light in the video.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

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UNFOUNDED REPORT of Sexual Assault at RI Subway Station

Gothamist is reporting that on January 25, 2009 at 12:05 pm there was a sexual assault on the F Line Roosevelt Island. The report has not been confirmed.

The Roosevelt Islander contacted both RIOC and PSD and neither had any additional information.

What is alarming and what I wrote in comments left on the Roosevelt Islander blog is that this station, if the assault was within the station, has two police officers, one on each platform guarding the tunnels and their for protection as the platforms are so far below the surface.

There are cameras which the token clerk can monitor of the escalators and the elevators but that obviously can do nothing to stop a crime in progress. Also I noticed last Friday that of the three monitors available to the clerk only two seem to be operating. It is unclear if this means specific views of camera are dark to the clerk or not.

It just shows at any time of the day everyone should be aware of their suroundings and take precautions.

UPDATE 1:00pm : According to Keith Guerra, PSD Director, via the Roosevelt Islander, the report of a sexual assault was unfounded.

I am not sure if this means there was no assault at all or that the assault was not of a sexual nature. I have sent an email looking for clarification.