The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) is a New York State public-benefit corporation responsible for developing Roosevelt Island, a small island in the East River that is part of the New York City borough of Manhattan.

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 bus service started charging a small fare in 1991; the fare was completely removed in 2014.

Routes RouteTerminiStreets traveledTimesRed BusOctagon Apartments888 Main Street (Most Times) or Coler Rehabilitation and Nursing Care (Rush Hours only)↔Southpoint ParkMain Street, East Drive, West DriveMonday-Sunday, 5:30AM–2:30AM, Fridays and Saturdays extended to 3:30AM (every 15 minutes)OctagonExpressOctagon Apartments888 Main StreetTramway station, Roosevelt Island(East)Main Street, East and West DrivesMonday-Friday, 7AM-10AM (every 20 minutes)Shoppers Special Costco, Astoria, Queens32-50 Vernon BoulevardRoosevelt Island Senior Center546 Main StreetMain Street, Vernon BoulevardEvery Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:30AM

Bus roster Active FleetFleetNumber(s)PhotoYearMakeModelNotes62009OBIOrion VII NG HEV(07.501) Runs mainly during rush hours160-1612016New FlyerXD40 Xcelsior #8 was renumbered to #160 in August 2026. #9 was renumbered to #161 in September 2026. Purchased to replace Orion VII OG HEV buses due to unreliability10-1120180.5/S-24 2024Ford/GlavalE-450 Temporary use as of September 3, 2024. Used mainly between the hours of 11 PM and 1 AM. Also known by RIOC staff as 0.5, officially numbered S-24250-251 2025 New Flyer XD40 XcelsiorPurchased to replace Orion VII NG buses Retired FleetFleetNumber(s)PhotoYearMakeModelNotes1-42005OBIOrion VII OG HEV(07.501) Retired in 2018 1 and 2 were bought by the Port Authority for JFK shuttle use1-3, 6, 81994New FlyerD40LF Likely retired by the purchase of buses 1-4 and 5-652009OBIOrion VII NG HEV(07.501) Stopped running in mid-2023. Officially retired in September 2024.72007OBIOrion VII NG HEV(07.501) Ex-MTA Demo #1291. Retired June 2023.Future FleetFleetNumber(s)PhotoYearMakeModelNotes(1 bus)(TBD)New FlyerXDE40 Xcelsior Order currently under consideration to replace bus #6 (see above).

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.

Public safety 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 is the primary policing and investigation agency within New York City as per the NYC Charter, which includes all of Roosevelt Island.

RIPSD Officers are designated as Special Patrolmen 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 (27). 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 patrolmen are prohibited by New York State 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.

See also Hudson River Park Trust Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority Lower Manhattan Development Corporation Municipal Assistance Corporation for the City of NY New York Convention Center Operating Corporation United Nations Development Corporation

References

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