Figure 1. Main Deck – Original Design
Draft - May 4, 2006
The ferry is under construction and is designed to carry a maximum of 300 passengers and 40 vehicles.1
The ferry has two passenger decks.
Figure 1. Main Deck – Original Design
Figure 2. Second Deck – Original Design
The US Coast Guard does not require coamings on any passenger doors on the ferry.2
A representative of the Access Board reviewed the original designs of the vessel with a representative of the ferry to identify passenger features that would not meet the draft passenger vessel accessibility guidelines made available in 2006. The ferry representative proposed new designs for the passenger features that would meet the draft guidelines and estimated how much the new designs would add to the vessel’s construction cost. The ferry representative reported that the cost to construct the vessel was approximately $6 million in 2005 dollars. The ferry representative estimated that it would cost approximately $8 million in 2006 dollars to construct the vessel due to increases in fuel and material costs, and labor shortages. The ferry representative estimated that the new designs would add from $205,250 to $255,250 to the vessel’s construction cost, or a 2.6 percent to 3.2 percent increase over the estimated cost in 2006 dollars. The new designs would also result in the loss of four car spaces on the main deck.
The new designs to meet the draft guidelines are discussed below. The designs are identified as having significant impacts, or incurring additional costs but not having significant impacts. A design is identified as having a significant impact where the design would add more than 0.5 percent to vessel’s construction costs; would substantially reduce the vessel’s usable space or necessitate an increase in the vessel’s size; or would present major operational issues. A design is identified as incurring an additional cost but not having a significant impact where a specific cost can be attributed to the design but it does not meet the criteria for a significant impact.
1. Access to Passenger Amenities
The draft guidelines require at least one of each type of passenger amenities to be on an entry deck or to be connected to an entry deck by an accessible route.3 V201.4. The draft guidelines permit a platform lift to be used in new construction to provide access to a deck that is less than 3000 square feet. V206.7.5. The ferry representative proposed to use a platform lift to provide access to the passenger amenities on the second deck (i.e., seating, tables, and drinking fountain).
The platform lift would be located near the men’s room between lanes 1 and 2 on the main deck.4 The platform lift would be positioned parallel with the width of the vessel and the door would open in the direction of lane 1. The stairway near the men’s toilet room would be moved approximately 12 feet toward the end of the vessel. The platform lift and new stairway location would not interfere with the vehicle lanes. The second deck surface would be increased approximately 33 square feet for the new stair landing. The ferry representative estimated a marine grade, stainless steel platform lift and the additional deck surface would add from $150,000 to $200,000 to the vessel’s construction costs.
Figure 3. Main Deck – Proposed Platform Lift Location
2. Accessible Route Within Main Deck5
The draft guidelines require an accessible route to connect passenger entry points and accessible elements and spaces within a deck. V206.2.2 and V206.4. The main deck has sufficient space for an accessible route from the entry points at each end of the vessel to the stairways leading to the second deck without overlapping the vehicle lanes. The ferry representative proposed to locate part of the accessible route to the platform lift and the toilet rooms in lane 1.6 The accessible route would overlap lane 1 for approximately 60 feet. Vehicles would not be allowed to occupy this space and four car spaces would be lost. The ferry representative indicated that the loss of four car spaces, or 10 percent reduction in vehicle capacity, would significantly impact the ferry service during the summer months when the vessel operates 12 hours per day at almost 100 percent capacity.
Figure 4. Main Deck – Proposed Accessible Route
3. Main Deck Slope
The draft guidelines generally require deck surfaces to have slopes that do not exceed 2 percent unless the surface is the running slope of an accessible route. V 305.2. The ferry’s camber, or side to side slope, is 2.27 percent.7 The ferry representative reported that a camber exceeding 2 percent is not necessary for water drainage. The ferry representative estimated that it would cost $50,000 to design the main deck so that the slopes that do not exceed 2 percent.8
1. Passenger Boarding System
The draft guidelines require a passenger boarding system to connect an entry deck to a fixed pier, floating pier, or landside structure. V208.1. The boarding system can be provided on the pier or landside. V208.1 Exception. The ferry uses landside gangways to embark and disembark both pedestrians and vehicles from the vessel. The draft guidelines exempt gangways used by both pedestrians and vehicles from the 1:12 maximum running slope requirement. V413.2 Exception 5. The gangways used by the ferry meet or can be easily modified to meet the draft guidelines. The only requirement that would add costs is for handrail extensions on the gangways. V413.8 and V503.10. The ferry representative estimated handrail extensions would cost $250 for two gangways on the ferry route.
2. Public Seating and Table Seating
There are 42 public seating spaces on the second deck (18 in the enclosed passenger lounge and 24 in the open deck area). The draft guidelines require two wheelchair spaces and companion seats. V221.2 and V221.3. The ferry representative proposed to reconfigure a bench in the enclosed passenger lounge to provide a wheelchair space and companion seat, and to add a bench at the end of the open deck area and provide a wheelchair space next to the bench. The deck surface where the wheelchair space is located on the open deck would be extended 12 inches to provide shoulder alignment with the companion seat. V802.3.1. The ferry representative estimates the additional bench and deck extension for the wheelchair space would add $500 to the vessel’s construction costs.
There are also two tables with 12 seating spaces in the enclosed passenger lounge. The draft guidelines require a wheelchair space with knee and toe clearance to be provided at one table. V226.1 and V902.2. The ferry representative proposed to move the seating on one side of the passenger lounge approximately 18 inches toward the center. This design would provide a wheelchair space at one table and maneuvering clearance to get to the space, and a clear deck space positioned for a forward approach centered on the drinking fountain behind the table.9 The proposed designs would result in a net gain 2 seating spaces and 3 wheelchair spaces.
Figure 5. Second Deck – Proposed Wheelchair Spaces
3. Drinking Fountains
There is a drinking fountain with knee and toe clearance for persons who use a wheelchair behind the table with the wheelchair space. The draft guidelines require a clear deck space positioned for a forward approach to be centered on the drinking fountain. V602.2. As discussed in the previous section, the ferry representative proposed to move the seating toward the center to meet the draft guidelines. The draft guidelines also require a second drinking fountain for persons who have difficulty bending or stooping. V211.2 and V602.7. The ferry representative estimates the additional drinking fountain and related plumbing work would add $1,000 to the vessel’s construction costs.
4. Toilet Rooms
The draft guidelines require the men’s and women’s toilet rooms to be accessible.10 V213.2. The ferry representative proposed to reconfigure the toilet rooms and adjoining space to meet the draft guidelines. The engine room hatch and the wall near the air intake for the emergency generator would be moved to provide maneuvering clearance for the door to the men’s toilet room, and the door would open out toward the accessible route on lane 1. V404.2.4. The location of the water closet and the sink would be switched in each toilet room, and the sink would be recessed into the wall approximately 18 inches to eliminate the overlap in the clearance around the water closet.11 V604.3. Sufficient space is available for the proposed designs. In the women’s toilet room, the additional space is taken from a storage area located adjacent to the stairway to the engine room, and extends over a corner of the stairway. In the men’s toilet room, the additional space moves the platform lift location 18 to 24 inches toward the end of the vessel. The ferry representative estimated that the proposed designs would add $1,500 to the vessel’s construction costs.
Figure 6. Reconfigured Women's and Men's Toilet Rooms
5. Protruding Objects
There are four exterior stairways on passenger circulation paths on the main and second decks. The draft guidelines require guardrails or other barriers where the vertical clearance on passenger circulation paths is less than 80 inches high. V204.1 and V307.4. The ferry representative proposed to install guardrails under the four exterior stairways and estimated the guardrails would add $2,000 to the vessel’s construction costs.
The ferry has two 92 KW generators that have sufficient excess capacity to supply the platform lift. The ferry also has a 72 KW emergency generator that has sufficient excess capacity to power the platform lift when used as an accessible means of escape.12 The ferry representative estimated that it would cost $1,000 to connect the platform lift to the emergency generator. The platform lift has a low electrical demand. The ferry representative expected the platform lift and other proposed designs to meet the draft guidelines would have minimal impact on vessel’s electrical power, fuel consumption, and stability.
The ferry representative estimated the cost for constructing the vessel based on the original designs to be approximately $8 million in 2006 dollars. The ferry representative estimated that the platform lift and other proposed designs to meet the draft guidelines would add from $206,250 to $256,250 to the vessel’s construction costs, or a 2.6 percent to 3.2 percent increase. About 75 percent to 80 percent of the additional costs are attributed to the platform lift. Four car spaces would be lost on the main deck. The cost estimates are summarized below in order of magnitude.
Platform Lift & Additional Deck Surface |
$150,000 - $200,000 |
Main Deck Slope |
$50,000 |
Guardrails under Stairways |
$2,000 |
Toilet Rooms |
$1,500 |
Additional Drinking Fountain |
$1,000 |
Connect Platform Lift to Emergency Generator |
$1,000 |
Additional Bench & Deck Surface Extension |
$500 |
Gangway Handrail Extensions |
$250 |
Total |
$206,250 - $256,250 |
Notes
- The 40 vehicle capacity is based on a car length of 16 feet. Vehicles carried on the ferry range in size from less than 20 feet to 65 feet. Special permits are required for vehicles over 65 feet.
- The draft guidelines require thresholds at doors without coamings to be ½ inch high maximum. V404.2.5.1. The case study assumes that this requirement would have minimal impact on new construction.
- The draft guidelines do not require vessels that have two passenger decks to provide an accessible route between the decks unless both decks are entry decks. V206.2.1 Exception 1.
- As discussed at page 5, the ferry representative also proposed to move the hatch to the engine room and the wall near the air intake for the emergency generator room and to reconfigure the toilet rooms to meet the draft guidelines.
- The second deck has sufficient space for an accessible route to connect the accessible elements and spaces within the deck.
- The ferry representative did not propose to locate part of the accessible route in lane 2 because heavier vehicles are positioned along the centerline of the vessel in lane 2.
- Where necessary to meet camber and sheer needs of the vessel, the draft guidelines permit deck surfaces to comply with the slope requirement to maximum extent feasible. V203.4.
- The original designs for the ferry are based on “sister ship” designs. The estimate is for changing the “sister ship” designs.
- The drinking fountain is discussed in the next section.
- If the single-user toilet rooms were not designated for men and women, the draft guidelines require only one of the toilet rooms to be accessible. V213.2 Exception 4.
- The draft guidelines permit the rear grab bar at the water closet to be at least 24 inches (instead of 36 inches) long in this configuration. V604.5.2 Exception 1.
- The draft guidelines require at least two accessible means of escape from the second deck to the life raft embarkation stations on the main deck based on US Coast Guard requirements for means of escape. V207.2 The draft guidelines require platform lifts to have emergency power when used as part of an accessible means of escape. V410.4. The exit stairways connecting the main and second decks can also be used as part of an accessible means of escape. V410.1.2(e). The draft guidelines do not establish any requirements for exterior exit stairways that are part of an accessible means of escape. V410.2 Exception 3.