How to Drive to Roosevelt Island (36th Ave Bridge)
Roosevelt Island has no direct vehicular bridge connection to Manhattan. All automobile traffic—including delivery vans, rideshares, moving trucks, and personal cars—must enter exclusively from Queens via the Roosevelt Island Bridge at 36th Avenue and Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City / Astoria.
The bridge is a lift-bridge that operates on-demand for marine traffic along the East River East Channel. Crossing the bridge is toll-free.
- • GPS Address for Navigation: 688 Main St, New York, NY 10044
- • Entry Point: 36th Ave & Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, Queens
- • Bridge Lift Delays: Typically 5 to 10 minutes during commercial maritime passage
- • Toll: $0.00 (No MTA or Port Authority tolls apply)
Visitor Hourly Rates & Payment Methods
Motorgate operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The facility utilizes automated ticket dispensers and license plate recognition at entry gates. Payment kiosks are located on the ground floor near the central elevator lobby.
Visitor parking follows tiered hourly rates, transitioning to a flat daily maximum of $28.00 for stays between 10 and 24 hours.
- • Up to 1 Hour: $12.00
- • 1 to 2 Hours: $15.00
- • 2 to 3 Hours: $17.00
- • 3 to 10 Hours: $23.00
- • 10 to 24 Hours (Daily Maximum): $28.00
- • Lost Ticket Fee: $45.00
- • Accepted Payments: Credit Card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Cash at ground-floor pay stations (bills over $50 not accepted)
EV Charging Stations & Vehicle Clearance Limits
Motorgate features 14 Level-2 electric vehicle charging ports located on the 4th floor. Charging is powered through the ChargePoint network and requires active charging sessions while parked in designated EV bays.
Vehicle height clearance is strictly capped across all garage levels.
- • Maximum Height Clearance: 6'8" (2.03 meters) throughout all standard ramps
- • Overheight Commercial Vehicles: Must arrange ground-level staging with RIOC Public Safety prior to arrival
- • ChargePoint Ports: Standard J1772 connectors (Tesla drivers require standard adapter)
Main Street Parking Restrictions & Towing Enforcement
Street parking on Main Street is strictly prohibited for non-permitted visitor vehicles. The entire island is an active tow-away zone monitored 24/7 by RIOC Public Safety Department (PSD).
Short-term metered commercial loading zones (maximum 20 minutes with hazard flashers) are reserved exclusively for active deliveries. Unattended private vehicles parked on Main Street, Octagon turnaround, or near Cornell Tech are cited and towed to Motorgate with mandatory release fees.
All non-permitted visitor vehicles left unattended on Main Street or residential turnarounds are cited and towed 24/7 to Motorgate by RIOC Public Safety with mandatory release fees.