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New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Roosevelt Island locals want fast pass to take tram as selfie-crazed tourists turn transit into attraction
Fed-up Roosevelt Islanders want 'priority boarding' for residents who are routinely forced to wait in line with hordes of selfie-obsessed tourists who've turned the transportation system into a carnival ride. Lines to board the tram to Roosevelt Island from the Upper East Side's Tramway Plaza have gotten so out of hand locals may wait up to 45 minutes, residents told The Post. 'There's no animosity against the tourists at all, we encourage them to come and enjoy the place we have,' said Paul Krikler, a five-year Roosevelt Island resident and Manhattan Community Board 8 chair. 'But the trouble is, it's become a tourist ride, not public transit.' Advertisement 7 Lines to board the tram to Roosevelt Island from the Upper East Side's Tramway Plaza have gotten so out of hand locals may wait up to 45 minutes. Leonardo Munoz There are other options to get on and off Roosevelt including ferry service downtown and F train on the subway — but locals said there aren't enough to compete with the demand when locals are scheduling doctor's appointments or arranging school pickup and dropoff. 'What we just want and need is the understanding and respect as residents, as employees,' said Felicia Ruff, the vice president of the Roosevelt Island Residents' Association. 'We're late for work because there's a crowd … we understand it's a bucket list [item], but you can take the next tram as a visitor.' Advertisement Tram ridership has surged as the scenic ride made several social media 'Top 10' lists for visitors to the Big Apple. There's been a million additional riders in the last two years, data shows. 'It's become a nightmare,' said 69-year-old resident Louella Streitz, noting the island's sole F train station's elevators are often out of service, which cause a headache for the area's aging population. 'We can't get home. I fight [tourists on the tram], I can't wait – I just push my way in.' 7 There are other options to get on and off Roosevelt including ferry service downtown and F train on the subway. Leonardo Munoz 7 Locals said other transportation methods aren't enough to compete with the demand when locals are scheduling doctor's appointments or arranging school pickup. Leonardo Munoz Advertisement The battle over tram access inspired a rally at Tramway Plaza on Sunday afternoon, with the likes of council member Julie Menin, Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Democratic mayoral candidate Scott Stringer showing support for the disgruntled Roosevelt Island commuters. During her remarks, Menin proposed a 'win-win' solution for residents to enter the tram on a fast-track – and offer a tourist pass to boost business once visitors are on Roosevelt Island. 7 Tram ridership has surged as the scenic ride made several social media 'Top 10' lists for visitors to the Big Apple. Leonardo Munoz 'We would let residents go first, and we could also promote all of the incredible tourist destinations on Roosevelt Island,' said Menin, adding that she will be meeting with Gov. Kathy Hochul's office this month to discuss the matter. 'It is very common sense, and we want to make sure that it happens now.' Advertisement The call for priority boarding on the tram is hardly new. When the F train was suspended from August 2023 to April 2024, locals asked the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) – the state agency that manages the tram – for passes to bypass burgeoning groups of social media-obsessed tourists returning to Gotham after the pandemic. At the time, RIOC argued it's illegal to discriminate against riders based on residency under state transit law, as well as the terms of its various contracts with the MTA and the city. 7 The battle over tram access inspired a rally at Tramway Plaza on Sunday afternoon. Leonardo Munoz A rep for RIOC told The Post its 'official comment is the statement we put out in 2023,' which rebutted that the tram is 'open equally to all New Yorkers and to the millions of people who visit New York City every year.' But residents like Krikler claim the new congestion on the tram has caused a 'transportation crisis' that creates a 'reasonable' need to prioritize Roosevelt Island locals and workers — and jurisdictions from Portland, Maine to Puerto Rico already tout similar preferential programs. 7 RIOC argued it's illegal to discriminate against riders based on residency under state transit law, as well as the terms of its various contracts with the MTA and the city. Leonardo Munoz Despite RIOC's refusal to consider the proposal, over 2,500 locals signed a November petition and the local community board passed a resolution the following month opting for the priority boarding passes. In its resolution, the board argued priority passes for the tram were issued to locals in 1976 amid similar tourism concerns. The group pointed to other preferential programs such as a 2023 toll rebate program for Queens and Bronx residents who use the Henry Hudson Bridge and Cross Bay Bridge. Advertisement 7 Despite RIOC's refusal to consider the proposal, over 2,500 locals signed a November petition opting for the priority boarding passes. Leonardo Munoz Krikler told The Post he and other locals surveyed tourists waiting in line in December, who reported they 'wouldn't mind at all' if priority passes were issued to residents — but not all tourists appear to agree with the plan. First-time visitor Yolanda Pedraza, of Colombia, told The Post the policy seems 'unfair' to those who travel from around the world for the panoramic views. 'It's a beautiful place to visit,' she said. 'I know many people come from all over the world – no, I don't think it's fair.'
CBS News
10-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Manhattan Community Board 8 votes against Lenox Hill Hospital expansion proposal
Manhattan Community Board 8 voted against a proposal to expand Lenox Hill Hospital on Wednesday, but the plan doesn't stop there. There's been an ongoing conversation with the community for the last six years after the hospital's 2019 revitalization plan proposed a 516-foot-tall building. Residents are concerned about what 10 years of construction will look like in their residential neighborhood. "They kinda can upgrade the infrastructure, and hospitals do it all the time. They're all not tearing themselves down and building these pavilions," Upper East Side resident Ann Goodbody said. "We're all for renovation of the hospital. We'd love a nice new hospital, but the size and scale is just astronomical for this neighborhood, let alone any residential neighborhood," Upper East Side resident Stacy Krusch said. Hospital employees say the building is over 150 years old and renovations are critical. "We have to be thinking not just five years from now and ten years from now, but 50 to 100 years from now, generations ahead," said Jake Scheinerman, Lenox Hill chairman of cardiac and thoracic surgery. The height of the building was later revised to 436 feet in the 2023 proposal. "It does demonstrate a commitment to listening and a commitment to change in how we have lowered the height of the building and how we have continued to try and adapt the face and structure of the building to what we hear from you all," Lenox Hill Executive Director Dr. Daniel Baker said. A hospital spokesperson says they are encouraged by the growing support and that they "remain committed to working with community leaders throughout the approval process." Local 79 worker Troy Watt is hoping it will pass eventually. "The opportunity for there to be some consistent work will be great for hundreds of New Yorkers, you know," he said. Community Board 8 voted 23-15 against the proposal. It now goes to the borough president, city planning commission, City Council and eventually the mayor's office. Members of the Committee to Protect Our Lenox Hill Community say 40 stories is still too high for the neighborhood and thanks the community board for standing with them. For now, the fight continues.
