99-701: The Roosevelt Island Tramway is an aerial tramway that crosses the East River in New York City , connecting Roosevelt Island to the Upper East Side of Manhattan . The tramway is the first commuter aerial tramway in the U.S., having opened on May 17, 1976, to serve residential developments on Roosevelt Island. The tram is operated by Leitner-Poma on behalf of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation of
198-417: A bridge to Queens had been completed two years earlier. After the state government leased Welfare Island from the city in 1969, several large housing developments were built there in the early 1970s, necessitating the construction of a public transit connection. Welfare Island was renamed Roosevelt Island in 1973, and residents began moving onto the island in mid-1975. The Roosevelt Island subway station on
297-445: A $ 2 million annual subsidy from the state government (equivalent to $ 8 million in 2023) for the tramway and other projects on Roosevelt Island. In 1977—its first full year of operation—the tramway recorded an $ 800,000 deficit (equivalent to $ 3,140,000 in 2023). The tramway's liability insurance policy cost $ 900,000 per year (equivalent to $ 3,533,000 in 2023), almost equal to its revenue from fares; such an expensive insurance cost
396-585: A $ 2.1 million renovation (equivalent to $ 4 million in 2023). During the 1990s, RIOC promoted various programs and events to increase its revenue and the tramway's ridership. To promote museums in Long Island City and Astoria, Queens , RIOC started selling "Tram Artlink" passes in 1994, which included tram tickets, connecting bus service, and museum admission. By 1995, further financial troubles forced RIOC to propose reducing service by four hours on weekdays and five hours on weekends. RIOC's agreement with
495-510: A $ 6.45 subsidy from the RIOC (equivalent to $ 11 in 2023), more than double the subsidy for each daytime trip, and the line was losing $ 1.7 million annually (equivalent to $ 3 million in 2023). The tramway was temporarily closed for cable replacement in November 2001. Although the closure was supposed to last one month, the tramway did not reopen until March 2002 because the original replacement cable
594-440: A battery-powered console. During a breakdown, the cages can be attached to a set of rescue ropes on the tramway; the cages could then be brought up to the passengers, who can be evacuated through the windows of the cabins. Originally, the cabins were suspended from their own pair of closely-spaced track ropes, and they were moved using a single haul cable. The haul cable was cited as measuring 1.625 inches (41.3 mm) thick, while
693-576: A breakdown. At the Roosevelt Island terminal was a master console, which alerted controllers to issues and could override the consoles in each cabin. The auxiliary drive was a hydrostatic drive that ran on diesel. The tramway's renovation involved replacing the main drive unit with an alternating current inverter system. Four backup generators were installed at each terminal behind the passenger waiting areas. The tramway begins operating at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time every day. The last trip
792-422: A cable-pulled street tramway with detachable vehicles (e.g., San Francisco's cable cars ). As such, careful phrasing is necessary to prevent confusion. It is also sometimes called a ropeway or even incorrectly referred to as a gondola lift . A gondola lift has cabins suspended from a continuously circulating cable whereas aerial trams simply shuttle back and forth on cables. In Japan, the two are considered as
891-592: A capacity of 110 (including one attendant). The cabins are standing-room only, except for two benches on the sides, and contain metal grab bars . The exteriors of each vehicle have larger windows than the original cabins did. The roof of each cabin has a set of two arms, which are suspended from a pair of cables; this allows the cars to maintain stability in windy weather. The cabins are also powered by their own electric engines. The vehicles' doors are automatically operated, and there are digital screens inside. The cabins are also equipped with wireless communications systems. As
990-521: A combined goods and passenger carrying cableway was installed at Gibraltar . Initially, its passengers were military personnel. An 1893 industry publication said of a two-mile system in Hong Kong that it "is the only wire tramway which has been erected exclusively for the carriage of individuals" (albeit workmen). After the pioneer cable car suitable for public transport on Mount Ulia in 1907 ( San Sebastián , Spain ) by Leonardo Torres Quevedo and
1089-417: A concrete deck that could support a 32-story or 35-story building above, although such a building was never built. This deck is supported by four steel-and-concrete columns measuring 40 inches (1,000 mm) thick and 40 feet (12 m) tall. The eastern side of the terminal is cantilevered above the sidewalk of Second Avenue, providing space for an unexecuted widening of the avenue. The terminal's western side
SECTION 10
#17327801099431188-497: A gauge of 14 feet (4.3 m). The cables can carry loads of up to 300,000 pounds (140,000 kg), more than three times the 80,000-pound (36,000 kg) weight of a fully loaded cabin. A third haul cable is used to pull each of the cabins. Three support towers carry the cables. The original plans called for the cables to be supported on two towers along the south side of the Queensboro Bridge. The towers were moved to
1287-600: A long-term partial closure of the 63rd Street Line. The subway line's closure created more overcrowding during late 2023. As of 2022, the tramway is operated by Leitner-Poma under contract to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. David I. Ozerkis, chief engineer of Roosevelt Island in the 1970s, designed the Roosevelt Island Tramway. Von Roll manufactured the tram and its equipment, and subsidiary VSL installed
1386-710: A meeting of Manhattan Community Board 8 in September 1971, the Welfare Island Development Corporation proposed an aerial tramway, which the board narrowly approved the next month. The tram was to run between the Motorgate parking garage on Welfare Island and 72nd Street on Manhattan's Upper East Side , with two 120-passenger cabins that ascended 200 feet (61 m) above the East River. The Christian Science Monitor wrote that
1485-408: A safety measure, when a cabin loses contact with the route's terminals, its braking systems stop it suddenly, which has sometimes caused the cabin to sway in midair. If the cabins were to break down over water, riders can be brought to safety via a rescue cage. There are two rescue cages, each with a capacity of 14 passengers. The rescue cages have their own drive systems and can also be operated using
1584-494: A state agency created in 1984 to manage Roosevelt Island, took over the tram service when it was created. The tramway's insurance cost $ 677,000 a year (equivalent to $ 1,596,000 in 2023) when the liability insurance policy expired in early 1986; at the time, the tram served 150,000 people a month. After the insurance expired, the New York State Senate failed to pass a bill that allowed the state to self-insure
1683-541: A third moving rope provides propulsion. With this form of lift, the grip of an aerial tramway cabin is fixed onto the propulsion rope and cannot be decoupled from it during operations. In comparison to gondola lifts , aerial tramways generally provide lower line capacities and longer wait times. Cable car is the usual term in British English, where tramway generally refers to a railed street tramway . In American English, cable car may additionally refer to
1782-432: A year (equivalent to $ 1,221,000 in 2023), and twice as many people used the Roosevelt Island subway station as the tramway. Roosevelt Island's chief operating officer, Jerome Blue, wanted to reduce operating hours to save money, but many of the island's residents objected. In particular, disabled and senior residents preferred using the tram over the subway. The elevators to the subway station were often out of service, and
1881-488: A year in insurance (equivalent to $ 19 million in 2023), and the route reopened after two weeks. The State Senate failed to pass a separate bill that would formalize the state government's involvement in paying insurance. By mid-1986, the tramway was operating at full capacity. The tramway closed for a week in August 1986 due to an electrical issue, and the blue cabin was repainted red. In mid-1989, mayor Ed Koch indicated that
1980-428: Is 250 feet (76 m) above ground. The floors of the cabins are 135 feet (41 m) above the East River at their lowest point. When the system was built, a set of bars called "cabin entrance guides" was installed to prevent the cabins from hitting each station. When the tramway first opened, it was equipped with main drive, auxiliary drive, and rescue drive units. The haul cable was propelled by drive bull wheels at
2079-618: Is also cantilevered and was intended to accommodate an unbuilt bus stop. The terminal on Roosevelt Island is located at 300 Main Street and abuts the Southtown section of the island. At the Roosevelt Island terminal, there is a transfer to the Red Bus route, which offers transportation around the island for free. The MTA's Q102 bus and the subway's Roosevelt Island station (serving the F and <F> train) are also near
SECTION 20
#17327801099432178-456: Is at 2:00 a.m. on weekdays and 3:30 a.m. on weekends. The route runs on 7.5-minute headways during rush hours and weekend mornings and 15-minute headways at all other times. The cabins can carry a maximum of 1,200 people an hour during peak times. On average, the tramway makes approximately 115 trips per day. The rides typically last three to four minutes. The tram is wheelchair accessible , and bicycles are permitted in cabins. Originally,
2277-642: Is in Sussex, England. It was built to connect a newly opened clay pit to the local railway station and opened in 1885. There are aerial tramways with double deck cabins. The Vanoise Express cable car carries 200 people in each cabin at a height of 380 m (1,247 ft) over the Ponturin gorge in France. The Shinhotaka Ropeway carries 121 people in each cabin at Mount Hotaka in Japan. The CabriO cable car to
2376-511: Is nearly 300 feet (91 m) long, while the stretch over Manhattan is more than 1,600 feet (490 m) long. The Manhattan terminal is accessed through Tramway Plaza, on the west side of Second Avenue between 59th and 60th Streets. MTA Regional Bus Operations ' M15 , M15 SBS , M31 , M57 , Q32 , Q60 , and Q101 buses stop near the terminal, while the New York City Subway 's Lexington Avenue/59th Street station , served by
2475-449: Is used in a funicular railway. The two passenger or cargo cabins, which carry from 4 to over 150 people, are situated at opposite ends of the loops of cable. Thus, while one is coming up, the other is going down the mountain, and they pass each other midway on the cable span . Some aerial trams have only one cabin , which lends itself better for systems with small elevation changes along the cable run. The first design of an aerial lift
2574-458: The 4 , 5 , 6 , <6> , N , R , and W trains, is one block west. The terminal is six stories high. To avoid interfering with vehicular traffic, the Manhattan terminal is elevated; the platform is 18 feet (5.5 m) high. The station has two elevators, and there is also a set of stairs. Above the terminal is
2673-437: The 63rd Street Line was being developed to serve the new community, but the entire line was delayed significantly by the mid-1970s. The first residents of Roosevelt Island had to travel through Queens to leave the island, making it difficult to travel to and from Manhattan via car. Because of the delays in building the subway line, an alternative mode of transportation between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island had to be devised. At
2772-646: The Gannett News Service said the tramway had become both a tourist attraction in itself and an icon of the island. After the UDC fired the original operator, ITT Inc. , it hired VSL International to run the tram in January 1977; there was no bidding process before VSL received the contract. VSL's staff of 20 tram operators (who also worked as station attendants), six mechanics, and four console operators worked three shifts of eight hours each. The UDC received
2871-597: The New York City Board of Estimate approved the aerial tramway. The state government was given a franchise for the tramway in December 1973, allowing construction to begin. Swiss firm Von Roll was selected to supply and erect the tram and its equipment, in part because, according to the New York Daily News , Von Roll made the "Cadillac of tramways". VSL, a subsidiary of Von Roll, installed
2970-639: The Rakavlit cable car in Haifa, Israel and the Portland Aerial Tram are examples where this technology has been successfully adapted for public transport purposes. The telpherage concept was first publicised in 1883 and several experimental lines were constructed. It was designed to compete not with railways, but with horses and carts. The first commercial telpherage line was in Glynde , which
3069-688: The Wetterhorn Elevator ( Grindelwald , Switzerland) in 1908, others to the top of high peaks in the Alps of Austria, Germany and Switzerland resulted. They were much less expensive to build than the earlier rack railway . One of the first trams was at Chamonix , while others in Switzerland, and Garmisch soon followed. From this, it was a natural transposition to build ski lifts and chairlifts. The first cable car in North America
Roosevelt Island Tramway - Misplaced Pages Continue
3168-429: The 2010 closure, when RIOC stopped charging fares based on age. Ever since the tramway reopened, children under 44 inches (1,100 mm) have been allowed to ride fare-free regardless of their age if they are accompanied by a paying adult. The Roosevelt Island Tramway formerly issued its own fare token , with images of the Queensboro Bridge and a cabin on opposite sides. Standard New York City transit tokens were used on
3267-400: The 63rd Street subway line began serving the island, the tramway saw 5,500 daily riders on average. Within a month of the subway's opening, the tram's weekly ridership declined from 35,000 to 20,000. Daily ridership on the tramway had decreased to 3,000 by 1993. The tramway carried approximately the same number of passengers daily in 1998, when the Roosevelt Island subway station had almost twice
3366-512: The 63rd Street subway opened in October 1989. RIOC estimated that the tram would lose $ 1 million in a year (equivalent to $ 2 million in 2023) because of competition from the subway. When the subway opened, RIOC fired staff members and installed token machines in an effort to cut costs. New York magazine wrote that some residents opposed the tramway's closure because it provided a wheelchair-accessible connection to more bus routes in Manhattan than
3465-460: The Manhattan terminal were completed in April 2022 for $ 7 million. This work also included an expansion of the Manhattan terminal's platform and renovations to the plaza underneath it. Installation of OMNY fare-payment readers on the Roosevelt Island Tramway was underway by mid-2023. On August 24, 2023, the Roosevelt Island Tramway started to accept OMNY fare payments. The launch of OMNY coincided with
3564-403: The Queensboro Bridge. UDC architect William Chafee proposed an aerial tramway, which was ultimately selected because it was cheap, direct, and fit into Roosevelt Island's quiet character. By early 1973, the UDC was finalizing plans for a tramway, which was to be the first commuter aerial tramway in the U.S. The tramway was to be the main means of travel between Roosevelt Island and Manhattan, and it
3663-399: The Roosevelt Island Tramway until 2004, when MetroCard was implemented. OMNY has been accepted on the tram since August 2023. The fare using OMNY or pay-per-ride MetroCard is the same as that on the buses and subways, $ 2.90 for a one-way trip, as of 2023. The tramway also accepts unlimited-ride MetroCards, and fares paid using OMNY are capped at $ 34 every seven days. Riders can transfer from
3762-417: The Roosevelt Island terminal and tension weights at the Manhattan terminal. The anchors at the Roosevelt Island terminal were counterweights that descended 40 feet (12 m) into the ground. Following the 2010 renovation, the Roosevelt Island Tramway was rebuilt as a dual haul system, allowing the cabins to be operated separately from each other. Each cabin is suspended from its own set of cables, which has
3861-485: The Roosevelt Island terminal, which was operated by the main drive unit at the same location. The main drive unit had a motor that was cited as having either a 1,700 horsepower (1,300 kW) motor or a 2,000 horsepower (1,500 kW) motor. An overload circuit could turn off the main drive unit in an emergency. The Roosevelt Island terminal also had the rescue drive unit, which could pull a second haul cable in case of an emergency and could be activated within five minutes of
3960-485: The Roosevelt Island terminal. The Roosevelt Island terminal is at ground level. This terminal is clad in metal and is supported by a steel superstructure. The sides of the terminal were also fitted with windows, which permitted views of machinery inside the station. Within the Roosevelt Island terminal is a 2-foot-thick (0.61 m) shear wall that conceals the anchorages for the tramway's cables. The original tram cabins measured 12 by 24 feet (3.7 by 7.3 m). Each of
4059-710: The State of New York. Before the tramway opened, Roosevelt Island had been accessed via the Roosevelt Island Bridge from Queens , which had opened in 1955. Starting in the late 1960s, the 63rd Street subway line was built to connect new developments on the island to Manhattan. Due to delays in the subway's construction, the tramway was proposed in 1971 and approved in 1973, initially as a temporary mode of transport. The tramway carried 1.25 million riders in its first year and remained popular thereafter, despite intermittent closures. Ridership declined sharply after
Roosevelt Island Tramway - Misplaced Pages Continue
4158-505: The U.S. until 2006, when the Portland Aerial Tram opened. A 2005 New York Times article described the tramway as one of fewer than two dozen aerial trams in the country, as most aerial trams in the U.S. served ski resorts . The Roosevelt Island Tramway and the Portland Aerial Tram remain the only two urban gondola lines nationwide as of 2024. Originally, the city government received seven percent of all gross revenue from
4257-402: The UDC stopped selling fares in Manhattan, gave "priority passes" to Roosevelt Island residents, limited the capacity of each tram, and prohibited several activities onboard. Bicycles were allowed in the cabins, but the UDC gave priority to passengers. Paul Goldberger of The New York Times wrote that Roosevelt Island's popularity rose significantly after the tramway opened, while a writer for
4356-411: The attendants to semi-automatically control the cabins. There were rescue hatches on the floor of each cabin, which could be used to extricate riders if the tramway broke down over land. The old cabins were stored in the Motorgate parking garage after the 2010 renovation. Each of the new cabins weighs 22,125 pounds (10,036 kg) when empty. The vehicles move at about 17 mph (27 km/h) and have
4455-403: The breakdown, officials announced that they would spend $ 15 million (equivalent to $ 22 million in 2023) on a major overhaul of the tramway in two or three years. The Manhattan terminal's plaza was renovated in 2007. By mid-2008, the renovation had increased to $ 25 million (equivalent to $ 35 million in 2023) and was to begin the following year. Local residents were concerned about the closure because
4554-495: The cabins had to be run simultaneously. The old cabins were to be preserved on Roosevelt Island, in a museum, or both. Work was delayed because of challenges in bringing a large crane to the island. The cabins were attached to the cables in October 2010, and test runs began in mid-November. The tramway reopened November 30, 2010, two months later than originally planned. The late opening was also attributed to delays in obtaining permits for construction, as well as inclement weather. In
4653-417: The cabins while the haulage rope, by means of a grip, is solidly connected to the truck (the wheel set that rolls on the track cables). An electric motor drives the haulage rope which provides propulsion . Aerial tramways are constructed as reversible systems ; vehicles shuttling back and forth between two end terminals and propelled by a cable loop which stops and reverses direction when the cabins arrive at
4752-599: The cabins' gearboxes was also rebuilt in 2018. The platform reconstruction project was finished in February 2019, at which point RIOC was in the process of installing two elevators at the Manhattan terminal to replace the original elevator. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City in 2020, ridership decreased significantly, and each cabin was limited to 24 percent its normal capacity. The elevators at
4851-446: The city government expired in 1995. Governor George Pataki announced in early 1996 that he wanted to eliminate all subsidies for RIOC, including subsidies for the tramway; at the time, the tram was operating at a $ 1 million annual loss (equivalent to $ 2 million in 2023). Despite protests from residents, the state stopped subsidizing the tramway the same year. With the elimination of the state subsidy, Roosevelt Island residents feared that
4950-570: The city. The subway stopped accepting tokens as fare payment in May 2003, followed by the city's bus system that December, but the Roosevelt Island Tramway continued to use tokens exclusively. RIOC bought 7,000 tokens from the MTA so passengers could continue to pay fares. RIOC announced in January 2004 that the tramway's turnstiles would begin accepting MetroCards . The tramway switched to using MetroCards on March 1, 2004, allowing tram passengers to transfer to
5049-614: The early 2010s, the Cornell Tech educational campus was planned on Roosevelt Island, and there were concerns that the tram and subway could not carry additional persons heading there. In 2016, engineering company GC Eng & Associates was hired to renovate the Manhattan terminal. Repairs to both terminals' platforms began in July 2017, during which one cabin was taken out of service at all times. Headways were increased to 15 minutes, which created severe overcrowding during rush hours. One of
SECTION 50
#17327801099435148-434: The end stations. Aerial tramways differ from gondola lifts in that gondola lifts are considered continuous systems (cabins attached onto a circulating haul rope that moves continuously). Two-car tramways use a jig-back system: a large electric motor is located at the bottom of the tramway so that it effectively pulls one cabin down, using that cabin's weight to help pull the other cabin up. A similar system of cables
5247-476: The equipment. In addition, Lev Zetlin of Lev Zetlin & Associates was the engineer for the Roosevelt Island Tramway, and Prentice & Chan and Ohlhausen were responsible for the route's two stations. The Roosevelt Island Tramway runs immediately to the north of, and parallel to, the Queensboro Bridge . This was a deliberate measure intended to prevent planes at low altitude from colliding with
5346-416: The equipment. The United States Army Corps of Engineers solicited public comments on the tramway plan in January 1974. The footpath on the Queensboro Bridge was shuttered that July in preparation for the tramway's opening, and a pair of lampposts at the Manhattan end of the Queensboro Bridge were removed to make way for the tramway. On the Roosevelt Island side, work was delayed because of the need to relocate
5445-500: The feasibility of having the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) take over the line. The tramway was shuttered in mid-November 1978 so workers could replace the haul cable, which was beyond the end of its service life. The cable replacement project cost $ 75,000 and took two weeks. Afterward, the tramway had to be closed every two years so workers could replace the haul cable. A plaza around
5544-480: The ferry disappeared after the tram reopened. Further haul-cable replacements occurred in November 1983 and August 1985. Although both cabins were originally red, one of the cabins was repainted blue in 1984, prompting complaints from some residents. State officials warned in late 1985 that tram passengers could have to wait as long as 45 minutes if the subway line to Roosevelt Island were not completed within three years. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC),
5643-506: The island's municipal laundry building. Work on the route began the first week of October 1974. Construction, initially scheduled to be completed by around September 1975, was delayed due to the UDC's financial issues. An interim commuter bus to Manhattan via Queens was launched in March 1975; the bus route took up to an hour to reach Manhattan, whereas the tramway was expected to take five minutes. The tramway's engineer, David Ozerkis, predicted
5742-501: The island's wheelchair-accessible buses traveled only to Queens. Blue also wanted to eliminate free fares for students, but this was unsuccessful, as was his attempt to cut back operating hours. By the late 1990s, tramway riders were advocating for free transfers to the bus and subway systems; at the time, riders had to pay another fare if they wanted to transfer. By 2001, there were plans to halt all service from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. due to low ridership. Each nighttime trip effectively received
5841-435: The next month that construction would be complete within the year. By that April, two of three tramway towers were finished. The towers for the tram route were erected by July 1975, when completion was projected for that December. The first cables for the tramway were installed the next month. Construction was delayed various times, in part due to strikes and inclement weather. The delays prompted numerous unfounded rumors about
5940-426: The north side of the bridge before construction began, and another tower was added. As built, the westernmost tower is between First and Second Avenues in Manhattan, the central tower is at York Avenue in Manhattan, and the easternmost tower is on Roosevelt Island. The towers are composed of steel posts that are welded together, and their foundations extend 40 feet (12 m) deep. The tallest tower, that at York Avenue,
6039-416: The old cabins weighed 18,300 pounds (8,300 kg) when empty. The vehicles could travel at 17 miles per hour (27 km/h) and could fit 125 people (including one attendant), for a total capacity of 1,800 people an hour. The original cabins were mostly standing-room only except for a few benches on the sides. The cabins had overhead leather straps, which were refurbished in the 1990s and removed in 2010; at
SECTION 60
#17327801099436138-456: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2023, the tram recorded 2,146,128 riders, having recovered much of its pre-pandemic ridership. Aerial tramway An aerial tramway , aerial tram , sky tram , aerial cablecar , aerial cableway , telepherique , or seilbahn is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while
6237-474: The ridership. During the 2005 New York City transit strike , the tramway was one of the few public transportation modes in New York City that continued to operate, transporting three times its typical passenger count. Daily ridership averaged between 3,500 and 4,000 around that time. Just before the 2010s renovation began, the tramway had 2 million annual passengers. After the renovation was complete, daily ridership slightly increased to 6,000, and annual ridership
6336-477: The route, including conjecture that the cabins were involved in collisions or were being secretly run at night. During an initial test of the route in February 1976, a tram hit a light pole, forcing the removal of the pole. By March of that year, the route was complete, and it only needed additional testing and state government approval before it could open to the public. The tramway had cost $ 6.25 million or $ 6.8 million to build (equivalent to $ 26–28 million in 2023) It
6435-406: The same fare structure as the city's bus and subway systems, and fares are paid with either MetroCard or OMNY . Over the years, the Roosevelt Island Tramway has been the subject of commentary and praised as an icon of New York City, and it has been depicted in several works of media. What is now Roosevelt Island was, until the mid-20th century, known as Blackwell's Island or Welfare Island; it
6534-469: The same category of vehicle and called ropeway , while the term cable car refers to both grounded cable cars and funiculars . An aerial railway where the vehicles are suspended from a fixed track (as opposed to a cable) is known as a suspension railway . An aerial tramway consists of one or two fixed cables (called track cables ), one loop of cable (called a haulage rope ), and one or two passenger or cargo cabins. The fixed cables provide support for
6633-606: The second cable lift, this newer version equipped with iron wire cable. Tramways are sometimes used in mountainous regions to carry ore from a mine located high on the mountain to an ore mill located at a lower elevation. Ore tramways were common in the early 20th century at the mines in North and South America. One can still be seen in the San Juan Mountains of the US state of Colorado . Another famous use of aerial tramways
6732-475: The student fares. RIOC also wanted the city government to attract tourists to the tram. In late 1990, NYNEX received permission to build a phone substation and an observation deck directly beneath the tramway, next to one of the support towers. Ultimately, the tramway remained as a permanent transit link. The tram was closed in October 1993 due to electrical issues and was repaired over the next three months. It reopened in February 1994 but closed again that July for
6831-406: The subway did. Two thousand people signed a petition in support of saving the tramway, and RIOC said it had no plans to close the tram. Following decreases in rush-hour ridership of up to 45 percent, New York City Council member Robert Dryfoos sponsored legislation in April 1990 that would allow the city and state to continue operating the tram. Dryfoos's bill called for the city to stop charging
6930-656: The subway opened in 1989, though the tramway remained in operation. Following two major breakdowns in the mid-2000s, the tramway was rebuilt from March to November 2010. The stations were renovated in the late 2010s. Originally, the tram used two 125-person cabins that were hauled by the same cable. After the 2010 renovation, the cabins were replaced with 110-person vehicles that could operate independently. The cabins travel 3,140 feet (960 m) between an at-grade terminal on Roosevelt Island and an elevated terminal on Manhattan Island. The route operates at all times except late nights, with headways of 7.5 to 15 minutes. The tramway uses
7029-425: The subway or bus for free. On September 2, 2005, more than 80 people were trapped on the tram for over 90 minutes, and an engineer had to be transported from his suburban home via helicopter to turn on a backup generator. After that incident, state inspectors issued two violations against the tramway and ordered RIOC to install a diesel backup or motor-generator system. On April 18, 2006, at about 5:22 p.m. EDT,
7128-469: The summit of the Stanserhorn in Switzerland carries 60 persons, with the upper floor accommodating 30 people in the open air. Despite the introduction of various safety measures (back-up power generators, evacuation plans, etc.) there have been several serious incidents on aerial tramways, some of which were fatal. Urban Development Corporation Too Many Requests If you report this error to
7227-559: The time, they were the only vehicles in New York City's transit system that used straps. The bottom sections of the exteriors were composed of bulky red metal panels, while the top sections had sliding windows, which wrapped around the vehicle. The roof of each cabin had an emergency escape hatch, a vent, and an asymmetrical A-shaped arm that ran along a set of track ropes. Telephones in each cabin allowed operators to communicate with staff at either terminal. Each cabin also had three separate braking systems, as well as small consoles that allowed
7326-468: The track cables were cited as measuring 1.8125 inches (46.0 mm) thick. The haul cable was laid in a continuous loop, moving the two cabins in opposite directions at the same time. As such, both cabins had to depart and arrive at the station at the same time; the cabins also operated during off-peak hours even if there was a lack of demand, and the entire route had to be taken out of service if one cabin broke down. The track ropes were attached to anchors at
7425-424: The tram could not be repaired in an emergency, since many parts for the tram were manufactured in Switzerland and imported at a high cost. Residents also expressed concerns over decreases in service. The tramway was again temporarily shuttered in January 1998 when a crane hit a cabin and injured 11 passengers; after the damaged cabin was repaired, the tramway reopened one week later. The tram was still losing $ 700,000
7524-440: The tram might be closed after the subway opened. One local resident stated at the time: "For many Islanders, this could be a day that will live in infamy: When the subway finally comes, the cherished tram may go." The line was again temporarily closed that July, after nine riders were injured when a cabin crashed into the Manhattan terminal. Under an agreement with the city government, fares on the tramway were raised by 25 cents after
7623-478: The tram to buses and subway stations on either end for free, or vice versa, and tram riders can transfer to express buses for an extra fee. After the tramway opened in 1976, it recorded 5,000 passengers on its first Sunday of operation and attracted 10,000 daily passengers in its first few weeks. The tramway carried its one-millionth rider in March 1977 and had seen 1.25 million riders, many of whom were weekend travelers, by its first anniversary. By 1989, just before
7722-521: The tram was one of three ways off the island, along with the subway and the Roosevelt Island Bridge. On March 1, 2010, the tramway was closed for what was supposed to be a six-month renovation. French company Poma was hired for the project, which included replacing all components except for the three tower bases. The improvements included a new "dual haul" system that allowed the cabins to travel independently of each other; previously,
7821-437: The tram's Manhattan terminal was established in 1980. After the tram was closed in November 1980 for haul cable replacement, the new cable fell twice in one month, prompting investigations by the state government. The months-long closure caused overcrowding on Queens bus routes and did not end until March 1981. The extended closure of the tramway had also prompted proposals for a year-round ferry to Roosevelt Island, but interest in
7920-646: The tramway "ought to be the classiest transportation buy in New York City". Although the 72nd Street location had been selected because it was far from the subway, wealthy Manhattan residents objected to the tramway's terminal being placed there. The Urban Development Corporation (UDC), a New York state agency, had studied the feasibility of a ferry, a bus, and an aerial tramway by 1972. Ferry routes to 34th, 63rd, and 71st Streets were studied but were ruled out due to high operating costs, lack of mass-transit connections, and lack of union support. Other alternatives under consideration included an elevator extending directly from
8019-526: The tramway a $ 136,000 annual franchise fee (equivalent to $ 280,000 in 2023); remove a requirement that a tram ride be more expensive than a subway ride; and allow students to ride the tram for free. The Board of Estimate agreed to provide discounted senior fares and free student fares; while the Office of Management and Budget agreed to fund the senior fares, the Department of Education would not pay for
8118-410: The tramway could operate in most weather conditions, but it shut down if crosswinds exceeded either 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) or 45 miles per hour (72 km/h). Thunderstorms and lightning could also shut down the route. The modern tramway shuts down if crosswinds exceed 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) or if there is lightning. The Roosevelt Island Tramway was the only aerial commuter tram in
8217-408: The tramway plan because they felt the tramway would cause urban blight . The United States Coast Guard also needed to approve the project because it crossed a navigable waterway . In September 1973, the route was changed to the north side of the Queensboro Bridge after property owners protested; UDC president Ed Logue said that "no prominent people lived" near the bridge's north side. The next month,
8316-417: The tramway to ascertain the cause of the breakdown. In the meantime, RIOC spent $ 500,000 upgrading the power systems. By May 2006, the primary electrical system had been replaced, and officials wanted to reopen the tramway within three months. The tram's backup electrical systems were refurbished, and each cabin was equipped with emergency supplies. The tramway resumed operations on September 1, 2006. Following
8415-419: The tramway, as the bridge is much larger than the tramway. Although RIOC gives the tramway's total length as 3,140 feet (960 m), other publications give slightly differing lengths, such as Popular Mechanics , which in a 1976 article cited the tramway as measuring 3,094 feet (943 m) long. The tramway travels 1,184 feet (361 m) over the East River's western channel. The stretch over Roosevelt Island
8514-443: The tramway. During the mid-1980s, the fare was required to be the same as that on the subways and buses, and farebox revenue was used to fund operating costs. The RIOC's franchise agreement with the city mandated that, after the 63rd Street subway opened in 1989, the tramway fare be 25 cents higher than the subway fare. The franchise agreement expired in 1995. Children who were 5 years old or younger were allowed to ride fare-free until
8613-548: The tramway; the New York State Assembly , the state's other legislative body, had already approved the bill. This was in part due to objections from upstate politicians who wanted liability insurance for their communities as well. The route stopped running in February 1986. After the State Senate initially rejected the self-insurance bill again, it ultimately allowed the state government to pay $ 8 million
8712-497: The two trams stalled over the East River , trapping 69 people for up to eleven hours; they had to be rescued using a crane, as well as via a cage that traveled from one terminal to the stranded cabin. Both the primary and secondary power systems were not operational, and the backup system was in California for repairs. The tramway was closed indefinitely, and the cabins stalled twice more the same month while RIOC officials test-ran
8811-574: The world market: Doppelmayr Garaventa Group , Leitner Group, and Poma , the last two being owned by one person. Some aerial tramways have their own propulsion , such as the Lasso Mule or the Josef Mountain Aerial Tramway near Merano , Italy . While typically used for ski resorts, aerial tramways have been ported over for usage in the urban environment in recent times. The Roosevelt Island Tramway in New York City,
8910-422: Was 8 feet (2.4 m) too short. During the closure, the cabins were also restored. The RIOC's chief operating officer Robert Ryan proposed running advertisements on the tram cabins in mid-2002 to reduce the line's operating deficit, though New York City Council speaker Gifford Miller said such advertisements were illegal. Ultimately, RIOC ran advertisements on the cabins despite not having received permission from
9009-434: Was about 2.2 million. By 2016, the tramway accommodated 2.5 million annual passengers, while RIOC estimated that between 2.6 million and 2.7 million people rode the tramway every year. Poma estimated that 70 percent of daily riders were residents, while the remainder were tourists. The route saw 2,302,511 riders in the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2020; ridership numbers during the next two years decreased significantly due to
9108-482: Was at Cannon Mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire in 1938. Many aerial tramways were built by Von Roll Ltd. of Switzerland, which has since been acquired by Austrian lift manufacturer Doppelmayr . Other German, Swiss, and Austrian firms played an important role in the cable car business: Bleichert , Heckel, Pohlig, PHB (Pohlig-Heckel-Bleichert), Garaventa and Waagner-Biró. Now there are three groups dominating
9207-523: Was at ground level. The first staff members included an unemployed firefighter who, according to The New York Times , said that his knowledge of "rescue procedures" had gotten him the job. The city's franchise to the UDC mandated that the tram's fare be at least 25 cents more expensive than the subway's fare, preventing the tram from drawing away subway riders. The route was free on its opening day, but rides were 50 cents (equivalent to $ 3 in 2023) thereafter. Following Roosevelt Island residents' complaints,
9306-594: Was at the Kennecott Copper mine in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park , Alaska . Other firms entered the mining tramway business—Otto, Leschen, Breco Ropeways Ltd., Ceretti and Tanfani, and Riblet for instance. A major British contributor was Bullivant who became a constituent of British Ropes in 1924. In the beginning of the 20th century, the rise of the middle class and the leisure industry allowed for investment in sight-seeing machines. Prior to 1893,
9405-538: Was by Croatian polymath Fausto Veranzio and the first operational aerial tram was built in 1644 by Adam Wybe in Gdańsk , Poland. It was moved by horses and used to move soil over the river to build defences. It is called the first known cable lift in European history and precedes the invention of steel cables. It is not known how long this lift was used. In any case, it would be another 230 years before Germany would get
9504-413: Was funded by bonds that had been issued to fund the development of Roosevelt Island. The equipment and vehicles had cost at least $ 2 million (equivalent to $ 8 million in 2023), while the support towers and stations cost another $ 4.25 million (equivalent to $ 18 million in 2023). The tramway route opened on May 17, 1976. As built, there was one elevator at the Manhattan terminal; the Roosevelt Island terminal
9603-406: Was intended as a temporary mode of transit until the subway was completed. The plans called for two 125-passenger cabins that would travel 2,470 feet (750 m) across the East River's western channel, just south of the Queensboro Bridge. Officials hoped the tramway would help the UDC's sales campaigns for the island. Residents of Sutton Place , a street facing the East River in Manhattan, opposed
9702-459: Was largely occupied by hospitals and asylums. The Queensboro Bridge , which connected the island with Queens and Manhattan , opened in 1909. A trolley (streetcar) line ran across the bridge when it opened, stopping in the middle of the bridge at an elevator that took passengers down to the island. The trolley remained in service until April 7, 1957, as the last trolley line in New York state;
9801-434: Was necessitated by the fact that there were no other aerial commuter tramways in the U.S. In addition, operating expenses amounted to $ 1 million a year (equivalent to $ 4 million in 2023), and the state government was essentially paying a 95-cent subsidy for every rider. Despite the lack of any major accidents, the tramway continued to have high insurance costs in 1978. This prompted governor Hugh Carey to ask his aides to study
#942057