Dear Mr. Shane:

The Roosevelt Island Red Bus service continues to be a major problem, and continues to worsen with recent RIOC changes. Below, please find 11 suggestions that we hope you will implement. RIRA is happy to provide experience and expertise.

Issue #1: Restrictions on Parents with Strollers

Certainly, this is one recent change that has produced the worst of all possible circumstances:

- longer passenger loading times while parents fold up strollers (parents understand why it is impossible to unload the child in advance of the bus arrival)
- greater danger to children because the parent must now manage the stroller, the child, any other children, and any packages – all while the bus drivers start, stop, and jerk the bus
- more space is consumed on the bus because the new configuration of parent, stroller, and child takes up more seats and more floor space

Truly this recent change, whether rush-hour or not, is supremely faulted in almost every possible way.

Recommendation 1A: RIOC withdraws the parent/stroller restriction at all times.
Recommendation 1B: RIOC should provide more straps to accommodate more passengers, increase safety, and increase flow.

Issue #2: New Route Change on Subway Stop

Again, the current change defies logic, even if no turnaround is possible. The current routing has the following problems:

- the new northbound subway stop is uphill, which is difficult for seniors and the disabled
- the new northbound subway stop has no shelter, so waiting in the rain or cold is impossible (in contrast to waiting at the subway); this is further compounded by the lack of a schedule and regular service – passengers can wait up to a half-hour for a bus
- this kind of routing was tried three years ago with disastrous results, as confirmed by Island residents
- this kind of routing is incompatible with the Q102 bus route

Recommendation 2A: Until a turnaround is in place, route the buses clockwise, i.e., the southbound subway stop is in front of 455 Main Street and the northbound stop is at the subway.
Recommendation 2B: Create a turnaround at the Tram so that the previous service can be returned, i.e., both northbound and southbound stops are at the subway station, OR route northbound and southbound traffic in front of the subway and use the transverse road between Sportspark and Goldwater hospital to complete the turnaround.

Issue #3: Inadequate Service Level

20 years ago, Roosevelt Island had a population of approximately 6,000 people. During rush hours, we had four buses that made a 30-minute loop (fire house), and each bus had a capacity of 60 people. The bus provided service for 480 persons per hour (60 people x 4 buses x 2 trips per hour), or approximately 1,500 people during the 6:30 to 9:30 morning rush.

Now with a population of 12,000, we still have four buses that hold 60 people with one of them on a 20-minute loop (Octagon Express), two of them on a 40-minute loop (local bus making all stops), and one of them on a 30-minute loop (firehouse local). The buses provide the following service:

- Octagon: 60 people x 1 bus x 3 trips per hour = 180 people/hour
- Local: 60 people x 2 buses x 1.5 trips per hour = 180 people/hour
- Fire House: 60 people x 1 bus x 2 trips per hour = 120 people/hour

In other words, the population has doubled but RIOC is providing the same level of bus service of 480 people per hour (or 1,500 people/rush-hour). Clearly, RIOC is not providing enough bus service. Last year, former RIOC President Herb Berman testified that 3,000-4,000 people make daily round trips on the Tram. The subway ridership is larger than the Tram’s. If 7,000-8,000 people are making daily trips and RIOC is providing service for only 1,500 during morning rush hours, then clearly RIOC is underserving the community.

Recommendation 3: Provide more buses during rush hour and other hours, as necessary.

Issue #4: Bus Scheduling and Variance

 Up through 2003, the Red Bus was a reliable service, arriving precisely every 15 minutes during normal hours, and every 7.5 minutes during rush hours. All Island residents had their own formula that worked for 30 years:

“If I leave the apartment at 11:02, I can catch the bus at 11:06, arrive at the Tram at 11:11, catch the 11:15 Tram, and be in Manhattan by 11:20.”

Since 2004, RIOC has been tinkering with the bus schedule. The bus schedule and its variance (variability in waiting times) is so bad that residents have given up on the bus service. Although the bus is supposed to run on average every 7.5 minutes, there is no scheduling at all: during rush hour, one can wait up to 22 minutes for a bus (assuming a seat is available), and outside of rush hours one can wait over 30 minutes for a bus.

It is impossible to have a reliable schedule if RIOC does not provide an adequate level of service, so fixing Issue #3 is a prerequisite to fixing Issue #4.

Recommendation #4A: Use a competent transit planner to develop a schedule.
Recommendation #4B: Outside of rush hours, synchronize the bus schedule to the Tram schedule.
Recommendation #4C: Provide a timer (as done for courtesy buses at airports) so that bus drivers know how to space themselves. The timer could be placed at the Tram (or Octagon). The rule during rush hours would be: the current bus must wait at least 7 minutes after the previous bus has departed at the Tram.
Recommendation #4D: The bus dispatcher should be present and visually observe the operations and schedule.
Recommendation #4E: The bus dispatcher and drivers should have radios and use them to communicate with buses and the Tram operators.

Issue #5: Bring Back the Stop Signs

The prior RIOC administration removed the stop signs to make the bus schedule faster. This has created serious traffic and safety problems on Main Street. Based upon RIOC’s study in the 1990’s, RIOC created speed bumps and then added stop signs. Only one of the following can be true:

- The 1990’s RIOC safety study was flawed.
- There is less traffic on Main Street now than in the 1990’s.
- The current traffic conditions are less safe on Roosevelt Island.

We suspect the last choice is the true one: a more dangerous condition at the crosswalks and intersections.

Recommendation #5: Replace the yield signs with stop signs at the 510, 560, 625, Motorgate, and post office crosswalks; replace the yield signs with stop signs at the intersection of the Motorgate ramp and Main Street. Finally, whatever RIOC does, it should have RIRA review changes prior to implementation. The current bus routing and stroller restrictions are examples of how RIRA could have provided insight to avoid such poor planning, schedule, and safety outcomes.

Matthew Katz, President
Roosevelt Island Residents Association