POMA launches aerial tramway over New York

After nine months’ work the French firm POMA is putting the final touches to the installation of a new aerial tramway in New York City, linking Roosevelt Island to Manhattan. The keywords for this unique, resolutely urban amenity are innovation, availability, flexibility and above all safety.

A revolutionary world’s first for POMA

With the completion of this ultramodern aerial tramway POMA brings to New Yorkers the most Advanced technology in cable-drawn urban transport. To meet the extremely High standards for passenger transit in a city, each car’s cradle runs on an extra-wide track (the suspension cables are four metres apart). This novel arrangement ensures the cabins remain exceptionally stable, regardless of the weather conditions, allowing higher speeds during the crossing and on station entry or exit. To meet safety requirements and deliver the best possible service, the two cars operate independently, each being hauled by a separate system of engines and cables. The 960-metre aerial
tramway connects Roosevelt Island to Manhattan in just three minutes. Each car has room for
110 passengers and the system can sustain a flow of 1,500 riders an hour in both directions.

A challenging urban project

This job has been exceptionally challenging for POMA, involving several major constraints, in particular a limited schedule and strict regulations. Furthermore the firm had to allow for existing infrastructure (two stations and the proximity of the Queensboro Bridge). Nor was there any question of work on the project disturbing the flow of traffic  on the roads below, used every day by thousands of city dwellers. POMA has demonstrated here the full range of its project management and coordination skills.

Soon open to the general public

The first cable was fitted on October 5 2010, with the first running tests starting the next day. By October 8 a car was already travelling at 8 metres per second, its final design speed! In the course of the next few days the second car will be installed, followed by a series of tests leading up to final certification of the facility by the Department of Labour. The permit authorizing the tramway to open to the general public is expected to be issued at the beginning of November. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), the owner of aerial tramway, should be able to organize an official opening in the coming weeks.