🚠 The Upper East Side, and New York City in general, has many forms of public transportation…from taxis and buses, to trains and a (antiquated) subway. We even a ferry system…but by far the most unique way to get around is the Roosevelt Island Tramway. The Tramway, which runs parallel to the Queensboro bridge, offers commuters and tourists alike incredible views of the Manhattan skyline for only a $2.75 ticket.
The Roosevelt Island Tramway is an aerial tramway which spans the East River and connects Roosevelt Island to the Upper East Side of Manhattan, NYC 🗽. The tramway is the first commuter aerial tramway in North America, having opened in 1976. Since then, over 26 million passengers have ridden the tram.
Prior to the Tramway opening, Roosevelt Island had been connected to Manhattan by a trolley (streetcar) line that crossed over the Queensboro Bridge beginning in 1909. Since inception, the Tram held a monopoly for service between Roosevelt Island and Manhattan until 1989, when the subway connection to the island was finally complete.