The Roosevelt Island
Tramway was born in 1976 as a means to
shuttle residents to and from Manhattan. It
was born due to resident frustration with
the New York City Transit Authority, who had
made unsuccessful plans to provide subway
service from Roosevelt Island to Manhattan
and Queens. Over twenty years later, the
Tram has serviced over 20 million passengers
and provided passengers with a breathtaking
view of New York as they are quickly
shuttled between Roosevelt Island and
Manhattan.
The Tramway was built by the Swiss company
Vonroll under designers Prentice & Chan and
Ohlhausen in 1976. Holding 125 persons, the
Roosevelt Island Tram is the only commuter
cable car in North America. It travels a
distance of 3,100 feet at an average speed
of 16 mph in 4 1/2 minutes. It rises to a
maximum height of 250 feet and travels at
certain points parallel and slightly above
the adjacent Queensboro Bridge, linking Long
Island City, Queens, and 59th Street in
Manhattan.
Copyright
2010 - Roosevelt
Island Operating Corporation.
2010 - Roosevelt
Island Operating Corporation.