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| Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Locale | Roosevelt Island,Manhattan,New York City |
| Transit type | Local bus, Aerial Tramway |
| Number of lines | 1bus 1aerial tramway |
| Daily ridership | 1,566 |
| Chief executive | B.J. Jones (President and Chief Executive Officer) |
| Headquarters | 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island,NY 10044 |
| Website | https://rioc.ny.gov |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | 1984 |
| Operator(s) | New York State |
| Number of vehicles | 6 buses |
TheRoosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) is aNew York State public-benefit corporation responsible for developingRoosevelt Island, a small island in theEast River that is part of theNew York City borough ofManhattan.
RIOC is guided by a 5-member board of directors.[1] Its management team is headed by President and CEO Shelton J. Haynes, who reports to the board.[2] In 2017, it had operating expenses of $26.09 million and a level of staffing of 175 people.[3]
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation was created byNew York State in 1984 to manage development and operations of Roosevelt Island. Before RIOC there existed other state agencies which ran the island's day-to-day operations such as the Welfare Island Development Corporation and later the Roosevelt Island Development Corporation. The first RIOC Board and President were appointed by the Governor in 1986.
TheNew York State Urban Development Corporation (UDC) operated New York City’s Welfare Island, asRoosevelt Island was previously known, prior to RIOC. Development of the island was based on the principles of urban "new communities" under PresidentLyndon Johnson’s "Great Society" programs of the 1960s and early 1970s, and development of the "new" community there was authorized by the 99-year ground lease and accompanying General Development Plan (GDP) agreed upon by New York City and New York State in 1969. The NY State GDP, which has been amended from time to time, provides for the development of housing, shops and community facilities for a mixed-income, handicap-accessible residential neighborhood.
Roosevelt Island requires specialized operations and infrastructure maintenance such as theaerial tramway, an on-island bus system, an underground pneumatic tube garbage collection system, and seawall improvements. Basic services such asMTA stops on the subway (Roosevelt Island station) and bus routes (Q102 bus), as well as water and sewage input and output, are provided by other agencies such as the MTA and theCity of New York. Meanwhile, RIOC supplements these services with its own specialized operations, infrastructure, and capital improvements.
Today, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation manages a mixed-income community of about 12,000 residents featuring numerous parks and greenspaces, recreational facilities, and six city-designated landmark buildings.[4] The waterfront promenade circling the island provides panoramic views of New York City icons such as theUnited Nations Headquarters, theEmpire State Building, theChrysler Building, theQueensboro Bridge, and the landmarkedPepsi-Cola sign in Queens.
 Now-retiredOBIOrion VII OG HEV 07.501 #2 on the Red Bus shuttle. | |
| Parent | Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation |
|---|---|
| Locale | Roosevelt Island |
| Service area | Roosevelt Island - Octagon, Main Street, Tramway, Cornell Tech |
| Service type | Shuttle bus |
| Routes | 3 |
| Fleet | see below |
| Fuel type | Diesel andHybrid |
| Operator | Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation |
| Chief executive | Shelton J. Haynes |
| Website | Official website |
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation operates theRoosevelt Island Tram and the Red Bus, which connects the tram to island locations.[5] The bus service started charging a small fare in 1991;[6] the fare was completely removed in 2014.[5]
| Route | Termini | Streets traveled | Times | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Bus | Octagon Apartments 888 Main Street (Most Times) orColer Rehabilitation and Nursing Care (Rush Hours only) | ↔ | Southpoint Park | Main Street, East Drive, West Drive | Monday-Sunday, 5:30AM–2:30AM, Fridays and Saturdays extended to 3:30AM (every 15 minutes)[7] |
| Octagon Express | Octagon Apartments 888 Main Street | Tramway station, Roosevelt Island (East) | Main Street, East and West Drives | Monday-Friday, 7AM-10AM (every 20 minutes)[7] | |
| Shoppers Special | Costco,Astoria, Queens 32-50 Vernon Boulevard | Roosevelt Island Senior Center 546 Main Street | Main Street, Vernon Boulevard | Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:30AM[8] | |
| Active Roster | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fleet Number(s) | Photo | Year | Make | Model | Notes |
| 6 |  | 2009 | OBI | Orion VII NG HEV (07.501) |
|
| 8-9 |
| 2016 | New Flyer | XD40 Xcelsior |
|
| 10-11 |  | 2018 | |||
| 0.5/S-24 |  | 2024 | Ford/Glaval | Unknown |
|
| 250-251 |  | 2025 | New Flyer | XD40 Xcelsior |
|
| Retired Roster | |||||
| Fleet Number(s) | Photo | Year | Make | Model | Notes |
| 1-4 | | 2005 | OBI | Orion VII OG HEV (07.501) |
|
| 1-3, 6, 8[9] | 1994 | New Flyer | D40LF |
| |
| 5 |  | 2009 | OBI | Orion VII NG HEV (07.501) |
|
| 7 |  | 2007 | OBI | Orion VII NG HEV |
|
RIOC operates the island's high-tech sanitation system, calledautomated vacuum collection (AVAC). In this system, a computer turns on the trash receptacles in each building every hour, opening a valve that releases garbage into one of two underground pipes. These pipes then suck the garbage into the AVAC complex, where dust and waste are filtered, packaged, and released. When the system was installed, the only other pneumatic garbage system in the US was inWalt Disney World.[11]
The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department (RIPSD) protects the island's property including all facilities by patrolling certain contracted residential buildings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
TheNew York City Police Department (NYPD) is the primary law enforcement agency whose mission is to provide police patrol service and investigate all crimes that occur within New York City which includes Roosevelt Island.
RIPSD Officers are designated as Special Officer in connection with special duties of employment, and such designation confers limited Peace Officer powers upon the employee pursuant to New York State Criminal Procedure Law § 2.20. The exercise of these powers is limited to the employee's geographical area of employment and only while such employee is actually working.[12]RIPSD special officers are prohibited by New York State Law (Criminal Procedure Law) and employee restriction to carry a firearm'.[13]
Officers complete a peace officers' course which includes training in law, police science, powers of a peace officer, self-defense/tactics, arrest procedures and basic life support/CPR. There is also an additional eight weeks of field training which new officers must satisfactorily complete as part of their supplemental training. For those seeking the certification, there is bicycle training.
RIOC maintains and rents out sports fields around the island for public use. The Sportspark exercise facility at the southern end of Roosevelt Island features a pool, basketball court, fitness center, and a rec room with billiards, ping pong, and air hockey.
Events, memberships, permits
Officers of the state of New York | ||
|---|---|---|
| Current offices |  | |
| Defunct offices |
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