Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation

Organization

RIOC is guided by a 5-member board of directors. Its management team is headed by President and CEO B.J. Jones, who reports to the board. In 2017, it had operating expenses of $26.09 million and a level of staffing of 175 people.

History

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 (Roosevelt Island station) and bus routes ( bus), as well as water and sewage input and output, are provided by other agencies such as the MTA and the City 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. The waterfront promenade circling the island provides panoramic views of New York City icons such as the United Nations Headquarters, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the Queensboro Bridge, and the landmarked Pepsi-Cola sign in Queens.

Transportation

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation operates the Roosevelt Island Tram and the Red Bus, which connects the tram to island locations. the fare was completely removed in 2014.

Routes

Bus roster

AVAC

RIOC operates the island's high-tech sanitation system, called automated 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 in Walt Disney World.

Safety & Security

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.

The New 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 assignment of employment, and such designation confers very limited Peace Officer powers upon the employee pursuant to New York State Criminal Procedure Law § 2.20 and RIPSD policies. The exercise of these powers is limited to the employee's geographical area of employment and only while such employee is actually working. RIPSD special officers are prohibited by New York State Law (Criminal Procedure Law) and employee restriction to carry a firearm.

Officers complete a basic 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.

Parks and recreation

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.

References

References

1. "RIOC Board Page".
2. "RIOC Exec Staff Page".
3. "NYSABO 2018 Report".
4. "2020 Census Tabulation Tables".
5. Daley, Suzanne. (1991-05-30). "Roosevelt Island Journal; Dime Bus Ride: A Way of Life Ends". The New York Times.
6. Bashan, Yoni. (2014-04-03). "Save Your Change: This Ride on New York's Roosevelt Island is Free". Wall Street Journal.
7. "Red Bus Schedule {{!}} Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation of the State of New York".
8. "Shopper's Red Bus {{!}} Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation of the State of New York".
9. "RIOC's NFI Group Media (1994 D40LF) {{!}} TTMG".
10. "Roosevelt Island Red Bus Service - CPTDB Wiki".
11. "How New York's Roosevelt Island Sucks Away Summer Trash Stink". NPR.org.
12. "Public Safety Department {{!}} Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation of the State of New York".
13. Stone, David. (May 28, 2024). "Navigating Change: Challenges and Failings at RIOC's Public Safety Department". The Roosevelt Island Daily.