Today's Nightmare Tram Story

A Look Back: Crane Collides With Roosevelt Island Tram.
When last I looked for Roosevelt Island Tram drama in New York, I found news of a power outage late in 2005 that left the riders swinging wildly in their bus-like cars and wondering if they had been the target of terrorists. After a couple of hours power was returned and the passengers, including a pregnant woman, continued on their way.
Today I found one from 1998 when one of the Tram’s cars was slammed into by a crane set up on a barge below, tearing a big hole in the tram’s side and injuring 11 people. As the New York Times reported it, “A construction crane working on the Queensboro Bridge slammed into a Manhattan-bound car of the Roosevelt Island tramway yesterday morning, terrifying commuters for a few tense moments as they feared that the wildly swinging car might plunge into the icy waters of the East River, 240 feet below.”
And just think, I get upset when I drop my coffee cup in the morning.
Sam Adams has recently editorialized in the Oregonian, promising to continue answering the tough questions. Okay, here’s several:
1. Has there been a study done on tram emergencies and could we see it?
2. Has there been any consideration given to the tram as a target of terrorism or other criminal behavior? Specifically, what would it take to bring it down?
3. How do our resources in handling a tram emergency compare to New York City’s? Will we have an emergency car available to rescue passengers if they get stuck, like New York does?
It’s obvious that the tram’s budget was handled in a shoody way, but that’s only money. We’re not winging it with the security issues here as well, are we?