Roosevelt Island Tramway: the cable car experience in New York

What You Need to Know About the Roosevelt Island Tramway

• The Roosevelt Island Tramway opened in 1976 to connect Manhattan with Roosevelt Island across the East River. It was meant to be temporary, a stopgap until the subway could extend to the island. But the temporary solution became permanent.
• The tramway is European engineering: it was originally built by Swiss company Von Roll. In 2010, French company Poma, a global leader in cable transport systems, took over and installed new bright red cabins. The cabins have ventilation for summer, heating for winter, and UV-resistant windows. Each cabin can carry 1,200 passengers per hour.
• The tramway makes 115 round trips daily, with a cabin departing every 15 minutes. During rush hours, expect crowded cabins.

How to Take the Roosevelt Island Tramway

• The Roosevelt Island Tramway departs from Tramplaza, at the corner of 59th Street and 2nd Avenue. As it crosses, the tramway runs alongside the Queensboro Bridge, giving you the best views of the bridge.
• The tramway spans the East River, and looking north, you can see across to the Upper East Side.
• The fare is the same as a single New York City subway ride. If you have an OMNY card, you don’t need a separate ticket—the OMNY payment system works on the tramway too.
• Film fans will recognize the Roosevelt Island Tramway from several movies, including Spider-Man, Léon, and more recently Black Water.

Roosevelt Island Tramway in Photos