The Roosevelt Island Tram is a great way to see a unique view of the city and it only costs $2.00. The trip is a short 4 1/2 minutes (each way) over the East River with fantastic views of the east side of Manhattan and the 59th Street bridge, the same bridge from the classic scene in Woody Allen’s “Manhattan”. It’s also the only commuter cable car in North America.

From the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation website:

“The Roosevelt Island Tramway was born in 1976 as a means to shuttle residents to and from Manhattan. It was born due to resident frustration with the New York City Transit Authority, who had made unsuccessful plans to provide subway service from Roosevelt Island to Manhattan and Queens. Over twenty years later, the Tram has serviced over 20 million passengers and provided passengers with a breathtaking view of New York as they are quickly shuttled between Roosevelt Island and Manhattan.

The Tramway was built by the Swiss company Vonroll under designers Prentice & Chan and Ohlhausen in 1976. Holding 125 persons, the Roosevelt Island Tram is the only commuter cable car in North America. It travels a distance of 3,100 feet at an average speed of 16 mph in 4 1/2 minutes. It rises to a maximum height of 250 feet and travels at certain points parallel and slightly above the adjacent Queensboro Bridge, linking Long Island City, Queens, and 59th Street in Manhattan.”

Tram opening date: May, 1976
Total trips, as of November 16, 1999: 1,664,000
Approximate number of passengers since opening: 30,000,000
Capacity of gondola: 125 persons
Number of trips per day - weekday: 120
Number of trips per day - weekend: 100
Cost per ride: $2.00
Cost of construction, 1976: $5 million
Distance from water at highest point: 250 feet
Distance from station to station: 3,100 feet
Average time of trip: 4 1/2 minutes
Top speed of tram: 16 miles per hour

Getting there: Subway F, N, R, W, 4, 5, 6 to 59th St and walk east, you can’t miss it. Google map.

Cost: $2.oo per ride

Tip: Avoid the rush hours 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm unless you like being packed in. Late night is a great time to go to see the lights of the city.