Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Expands Rush Hour Red Bus Service to NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
The new bus stop will improve public transportation access for Coler residents, staff, and visitors
Aug 15, 2025
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) and NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler announce a new pilot program that will extend free Red Bus service on Roosevelt Island directly to the front entrance of the skilled nursing & rehabilitation center located at 900 Main Street, during morning and afternoon rush hours, beginning Monday, August 18. As part of the pilot, Coler will serve as the northernmost stop on the island from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays. The initiative aims to improve public transportation access for Coler residents, staff, and visitors.
“The extension of the RIOC Red Bus service to our main entrance at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler will have a profound impact on the quality of life of staff, residents and visitors who commute to our nursing facility from other transportation hubs on Roosevelt Island,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler Interim Chief Executive Officer David Weinstein, MA, HSA, LNHA. “I am grateful to our partners at Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation for working with us to improve accessibility to this invaluable service.”
“Extending the Red Bus to Coler Hospital is something that has been requested of different RIOC administrations for years, likely since the facility first opened. Today, we are pleased to announce a new pilot program that will finally allow Coler residents, staff, and visitors to travel directly from the island’s transportation hubs to the hospital’s front door every weekday during our busiest rush hour periods,” said Mary Cunneen, Chief Operating Officer of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. “I want to thank David Weinstein, interim CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler, for his partnership and commitment to making this possible, and RIOC’s Transportation Department, led by Nestor Ortiz, for moving quickly to turn this long-standing goal into a reality.”
Currently, passengers traveling to or from Coler via the Red Bus must use the Octagon stop, located south of the Coler campus. This additional distance can be challenging, especially for Coler residents, many of whom have mobility limitations. Under the pilot program, the Red Bus will instead make its final northbound stop at the same Coler stop used by the Q102 bus during weekday peak hours.
The addition of the Coler stop is not expected to affect the current Red Bus schedule. During off-peak hours and weekends, the route will continue to begin and end at the Octagon.
“Bringing the red bus route to Coler is a good idea. Not only would it benefit staff but also family members visiting our residents,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler Community Advisory Board Chair Verna Fitzpatrick.
“I’m very excited about the red bus stopping at Coler. It will be very convenient to see my family member. I’m very happy about it,” said Coler Family Caregiver Petra Dominguez.
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MEDIA CONTACTS: Bryant Daniels, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
Rafael Dominguez, NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
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About Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC)
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) was created in 1984 by the State of New York as a public benefit corporation with a mission to plan, design, develop, operate, and maintain Roosevelt Island. With a focus on innovative and environmentally friendly solutions, RIOC is committed to providing services that enhance the island’s residential community. RIOC manages the two-mile-long island’s roads, parks, buildings, a sports facility, and public transportation, including the iconic aerial tramway. Additionally, RIOC operates a Public Safety Department that helps maintain a safe and secure environment for residents, employees, business owners, and visitors.
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler is an 815-bed skilled nursing facility located in Roosevelt Island, providing comprehensive skilled nursing, medical and rehabilitative care for more than 70 years. Coler is committed to serving New York City and the surrounding communities, while setting an example as a leader in memory care programming and rehabilitation. Rated as a “2025 Best Nursing Home” by Newsweek, with a ranking of 9th best in New York State, the facility earned a Five-Star CMS rating which designates them among the top 10 percent of skilled nursing facilities in the country. The facility also ranks in the top 1st quintile in the New York State Department of Health Nursing Home Quality Pool. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/coler.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
