A prison in the past, Roosevelt Island is now a progressive residential neighborhood. However, the difficulty of communing may at times make some of 12,000 residents feel like they are in prison.
Constant delays and construction on the F line, the only line stopping on this island, as well as thousands of new residents settling in the new buildings create overcrowding and longer commute for the islanders who need to travel to other parts of the city.
“F train has just been ridiculous during the last couple of weeks,” said a long time islander, Alex. According to Straphangers Campaign’s Subway Line Profile, F train has a below-average regularity which means that less F trains arrive on schedule.
Despite a tram that goes across the bridge, many residents prefer F train. So, in the rush hours, the Manhattan platform fills up in five minutes. When a delayed train comes, “some people cannot even get on,” says Alex, and are forced to wait for the next train. Sometimes the next trains comes in one minute, sometimes in 20 minutes.
When it’s clear that the train has been delayed, many try to take a tram. But, even here residents face challenges. “That’s another $2.75 you have to pay,” says Jessica because “no one is compensating us” for the swipe for the F train.
Additionally, the tram imposes challenges for disabled residents because the only two elevators on the Manhattan side have been broken for 3 weeks already.
Current construction on the F line has made things more complicated. “With this construction, we are stuck on the island almost every weekend,” says Jessica about MTA’s weekend construction that makes F trains go over the E line-skipping Roosevelt Island- almost every week. When Queens- bound trains don’t stop on the island, one has to go to 47-50 Rockefeller Center station and switch over to the Queens-bound train. “It adds close to an hour,” says Alex with weekend slow service and delays. 
Roosevelt Island has two bridges- Queensboro and Roosevelt Island bridges. However, both of them have specific commute challenges. For example, Roosevelt Island bridge only goes to Queens and the neighborhood where it ends has no train stations for avenues.
Queensboro bridge has no connection to the island at all. In order to get to Manhattan by car- which not every islander has- a driver has to first go to Queens and then, through a series of avenues, take Queensboro bridge to Manhattan. This might add up to 40 minutes to travel time.
Despite existing challenges, recently opened buildings and other being planned for the future will attract thousands of people who could further overcrowd every form of transportation on the island. A new luxury building, Riverwalk 7, was finished last month. Already 40% percent of 266 apartments have been rented and some newcomers already moved in. This will probably mean more crowded buses, trains and trams.
According to the local newspaper, the Main Street Wire, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) has hinted at the building of two more luxury condos right near Riverwalk 7. Although the process has not started yet, RIOC plans on starting it soon. New buildings will add a
n estimated thousand new residents to the island by 2019.
Residential buildings are not the only buildings on the island. Cornell University is building its new campus- Cornell Tech- on Roosevelt Island as well. According to Cornell University, this campus will include 2 million square feet of buildings, over 2 acres of open space, and will be home to more than 2,000 graduate students and nearly 280 faculty and staff. The campus is set to open in 2017. This addition to the island might mean even more overcrowded train and trams.
As a possible solution, AM New York once wrote about a ferry that will stop at three locations: Roosevelt Island, Long Island City and 34th street. “That would be great,” says Jessica.
Daily News reports that that MTA plans to speed up the time on the 6,7 and F trains. The plan includes shorter audio announcements that might help trains leave the station in shorter time and 100 platform controllers who will help people get off and get on faster. This might mean less delays on the F line and, as a result, better commute for the Roosevelt Island residents.
The aroma of fresh harvested produce surrounds those who pass through. Curious locals peer at the peculiar variations of produce. As they become immersed in the Union Square Greenmarket, time ceases to exist; at least compared to the fast paced New York life. However, customers are doing more than just buying groceries.
Buying local is better for the environment because it cuts down on the processing, packaging and shipping of food produced by large corporations. By supporting the market, customers helps cut the amount of waste sent to landfills, which also decreases greenhouse gas emissions.
can’t let people leave because I am too slow,” he said.
