Why visit
The Roosevelt Island Tramway opened in 1976 as a temporary transport solution before subway service reached the island, but became a permanent part of New York's network. Its two independent aerial cabins travel between East 59th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan and Tramway Plaza on Roosevelt Island.
What to see
The route runs beside the Queensboro Bridge, rising above traffic and the East River before descending among the island's residential towers. From the cabin, the bridge's steel trusses, Midtown façades, river channels and the narrow island align in perspectives unavailable at street level or from an underground train.
Plan your visit
A modernization completed in 2010 gave each cabin its own cable system, allowing separate operation and improved reliability. The tram uses the city's OMNY and MetroCard fare systems, so an unusual piece of aerial infrastructure functions as ordinary public transit rather than solely as a sightseeing ride.
