Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
Encyclopedia
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) is a public-benefit corporation responsible for developing Roosevelt Island
, a small strip of land in the East River
, part of the borough of Manhattan
.
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation was created by New 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.
The New York State Urban Development Corporation (UDC) operated New York City’s Welfare Island, as Roosevelt Island
was previously known, prior to RIOC. Development of the island was based on the principles of urban "new communities" under President Lyndon 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 the aerial tramway
, an on-island bus system, an underground pneumatic tube garbage collection system, and seawall improvements. Basic services such as MTA
stops on the subway and bus routes and water and sewage input and output are provided by the City of New York, while 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 between 12,000 and 14,000 residents featuring numerous parks and greenspaces, recreational facilities, and six city-designated landmark buildings. The waterfront promenade circling the island provides panoramic views of New York City icons such as the United Nations, the Empire State building, the Chrysler building, the Queensboro Bridge, and the landmarked Pepsi Cola sign in Queens.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation operates the Roosevelt Island Tram and the Red Bus, which connects the tram to island locations. MetroCard
is not accepted for payment of fare on this line, which has a one-way cash fare of 25¢
, and 10¢ for seniors and people with disabilities.
(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.
Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island, known as Welfare Island from 1921 to 1973, and before that Blackwell's Island, is a narrow island in the East River of New York City. It lies between the island of Manhattan to its west and the borough of Queens to its east...
, a small strip of land in the East River
East River
The East River is a tidal strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland...
, part of the borough of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation was created by New 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.
The New York State Urban Development Corporation (UDC) operated New York City’s Welfare Island, as Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island, known as Welfare Island from 1921 to 1973, and before that Blackwell's Island, is a narrow island in the East River of New York City. It lies between the island of Manhattan to its west and the borough of Queens to its east...
was previously known, prior to RIOC. Development of the island was based on the principles of urban "new communities" under President Lyndon Johnson’s "Great Society
Great Society
The Great Society was a set of domestic programs in the United States promoted by President Lyndon B. Johnson and fellow Democrats in Congress in the 1960s. Two main goals of the Great Society social reforms were the elimination of poverty and racial injustice...
" 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 the aerial tramway
Roosevelt Island Tramway
The Roosevelt Island Tramway is an aerial tramway in New York City that spans the East River and connects Roosevelt Island to Manhattan. Prior to the completion of the Mississippi Aerial River Transit in May 1984 and the Portland Aerial Tram in December 2006, it was the only commuter aerial tramway...
, an on-island bus system, an underground pneumatic tube garbage collection system, and seawall improvements. Basic services such as MTA
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
stops on the subway and bus routes and water and sewage input and output are provided by the City of New York, while 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 between 12,000 and 14,000 residents featuring numerous parks and greenspaces, recreational facilities, and six city-designated landmark buildings. The waterfront promenade circling the island provides panoramic views of New York City icons such as the United Nations, the Empire State building, the Chrysler building, the Queensboro Bridge, and the landmarked Pepsi Cola sign in Queens.
Transportation
MetroCard
The MetroCard is the payment method for the New York City Subway rapid transit system; New York City Transit buses, including routes operated by Atlantic Express under contract to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority ; MTA Bus, and MTA Long Island Bus systems; the PATH subway system; the...
is not accepted for payment of fare on this line, which has a one-way cash fare of 25¢
Cent (currency)
In many national currencies, the cent is a monetary unit that equals 1⁄100 of the basic monetary unit. Etymologically, the word cent derives from the Latin word "centum" meaning hundred. Cent also refers to a coin which is worth one cent....
, and 10¢ for seniors and people with disabilities.
| Route | Terminals | Streets traveled | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Bus |
Octagon Apartments | ↔ | Roosevelt Island Tramway station | Main Street, East and West Service Drive |
AVAC
RIOC operates the island's high-tech sanitation system, called Automated Vacuum CollectionAutomated Vacuum Collection
The Automated Vacuum Waste Collection System, also known as pneumatic refuse collection, or Automated Vacuum Collection system, transports waste at high speed through underground tunnels to a collection station where it is compacted and sealed in containers. When the container is full, it is...
(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.