1 

### 40 Car **Vehicle Ferry**  **Case Study**  **(Public Entity)**

**June 25, 2013** 

### Introduction In 2006, the ferry wa s under construction and is designed to carry a maximum of 300 passenger s and 40 vehicle s. 1 The ferry has two passenger decks.

 Main Deck

– The main d eck is approximately 7,900 square feet

. Pedestrians and vehicles enter the ferry from either end of the main deck. There are four lanes for vehicles. B etween lanes 1 and 2 , there are single

- user toilet rooms , one for men and another for women ; an emerge ncy generator room; an enclosed stair way to the engine room ; and two exterior stairway s that connect to the second deck.

**Figure 1. Main**  **Deck**

**– Original Design** 

 Second Deck

– The second deck is approximately 1,250 square feet and is located over lane 1 and the structures on the main deck. There is an enclosed passenger lounge that has benches , tables , and a drinking fountain. There is also an open deck area that has benches

. There are two exterior stair way s that connect to the third deck that is for employ ees only and contains the pilot house

. Two other exterior stairway s connect the main deck.

**Figure 2. Second Deck** 

**– Original Design** 

1 The 40 vehicle capacity is based on a car l ength 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.2

The US Coast Guard does not require coamings on any passenger doors on the ferry

. 2 

### M **ethodology** A representative of the Access Board reviewed the original design s of the vessel with a representative of the ferry service to identify passenger features that would not meet the draft passenger vessel accessibility guidelines made available in 2006. The ferry repre sentative 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 Access Board has updated the study to represent the requirements in th e proposed passenger vessel accessibility guidelines. The 2006 costs recorded in the 2008 draft of the study (available on the Board’s website) that applied to the proposed guidelines were multiplied by

1.19 48 3 to produce 2011 values. The ferry represent ative has not reviewed the updates. The ferry representative reported that the cost to construct the vessel was approximately $6 million in 2005 dollars. The ferry representative estimated the cost for constructing the vessel based on the original design s to be approximately $8 million in 2006 dollars , updated to $9.56 million in 2011 dollars

. The platform lift and other proposed designs to meet the proposed guidelines would add from $ 258,800 to $ 318,800 (average of $288,800) to the vessel’s (updated) construction costs, or a 3.0 percent increase. Over 70 percent of the additional costs are attributed to the platform lift. Two to four fixed seats were lost on the second deck , and one wheelchair space and one drinking fountain were added. Actions tak en on features in the original vessel designs to create new designs meeting the draft guidelines 4 for a new vessel are discussed below , as updated to reflect the requirements of the proposed guidelines

. The case study sought to identify actions that 1) have significant impacts , 2) incurred additional costs but did not hav e significant impacts , or 3) have other outcomes which should be noted

. An action is identified as having a significant impact where the redesign of the feature 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. An action is identified as incurring an additional co st but not having a significant impact where a specific cost can be attributed to the redesign of a feature but it does not meet the criteria for a significant impact.

2 The proposed guidelines require thresholds at doors w ithout coamings to be 1⁄2 inch high maximum. V404.2.5.1. The case study assumes that this requirement would have minimal impact on new construction. 3 1.194773214 and results have been rounded. 4 As amended by Board action at the 2007 and April 2008 meetings.3 

### Design **s That Have**  **Significant Impact**  **s 1.**  **Access to Second Deck**  On the second deck (1250 square fe et in size), interior and exterior transportation seating areas are provided for passenger use. T he proposed guidelines require at least one transportation seating area to be on an entry deck or to be connected to an entry deck by an accessible route

. 5 V 2 2 2.2
. The guidelines permit a platform lift to be used in new construction to provide access to a deck that is less than 3 , 000 square feet. V206.7. 1
. The ferry representative proposed to use a platform lift to provide access to the transportation seati ng areas on the second deck instead of locating a transportation seating area on the main deck

. The platform lift would be located near the men’s room between lanes 1 and 2 on the main deck

. The platform lift would be positioned parallel with the width of the vessel and the door would open in the direction of lane 1
. T he stair way near the men’s toilet room would be moved approximately 12 feet toward the end of the vessel

. The platform lift and new stair

way 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 , custom made, stainless steel platform lift which is open to the weather and the additional deck surface would add $179,000 to $239,000 (average of $209,000) to the vessel’s construction costs

.

**Figure 3. Main Deck** 

**– Proposed Platform Lift**  **Location**
**2 . Main Deck Slope**  The proposed guidelines generall y require deck surfaces to have slopes that do not exceed 2 percent unless the surface is the running slope of an accessible route. V305.2. The ferry ’s camber, or side to side slope , is 2.27 percent. 6 The ferry representative

5 The proposed guidelines do not re quire vessels that have two passenger decks to provide an accessible route betw een the decks unless both decks are entry decks. V206.2.1 E xception 1

. How ever, the location s of transportation seating areas are controlled . V222.2. 6 Where necessary to meet camber and sheer needs of the vessel, the proposed guidelines permit deck surfaces to comply with the slope requirement to maximum extent feasible. V203.4.4

report ed that a camber exceeding 2 percent is not necessary for water drainage. The ferry representative estimated that it would cost $ 59,700 to re design the main deck so that the slopes do not exceed 2 p ercent. 7 

### Design **s That**  **Incur Additional**  **Cost s But Do Not Have Significant**  **I mpact**  **s 3**  **. Drinking Fountain s**  A drinking f

ountain is provide d in the second deck cabin and mounted at standard height

. Where a deck has a passenger drinking fountain, the proposed guidelines requi re the deck to have at least one passenger drinking fountain mounted at a low position (for persons w ho use wheelchairs) and one mounted at a high position (for persons with difficulty bending or stooping). V211.2. At the wheelchair accessible drinking fountain, the guidelines require knee and toe clearance and a clear deck space positioned for a forwar d approach

. V602.2. The ferry representative proposed in the new designs to use the standard height drinking fountain for meeting the needs of persons with difficulty bending or stooping, and install ing a second drinking fountain for persons who use whee lchairs. To provide the clear deck space (30 inches b y 48 inches) , the seat s near the drinking fountains w ere slightly moved in the new designs toward the center of the cabin. This move is estimated to have an insignificant impact of the use of the space

. The ferry representative also estimate d the additional drinking fountain and related plumbing work would add $1,000 to the vessel’s construction costs 8

. **4 . Toilet Rooms**  The proposed guidelines require the men’s and women’s toilet rooms to be access ible. 9 V213.2
. The ferry

representative proposed to reconfigure the toilet rooms and adjoining space to meet the guidelines

. The engine room hatch and the wall near the air intake for the emergency

generator would be moved to provide maneuvering clearan ce for the door to the men’s toilet room

. V404.2.4. The location of the water closet and the sink would be switched in each toilet room , and the sink would be recess ed into the wall approximately 18 inches to eliminate the overlap in the clearance around the water closet

. 10 V604.3. Sufficient space is available for the proposed designs

. In the women’s

7 The original designs for the ferry are based on “sister ship” designs. The estimate is for changing the “sister ship” designs. 8 The proposed guidelines also require that where a drinking fountain is provided on decks not connected by an onboard accessible route to an entry deck ( as permitted by the exceptions in V206.2.1 ) , at least one passen ger drinking fountain must be mounted at a low position (for persons who use wheelchairs) and one must be mounted at a high position (for persons with difficulty bending or stooping), and located on an entry deck or connected to an entry deck by an onboard accessible route

. V211.1.1. As a platform lift connects the second deck, the drinking fountains on that deck are connected by an onboard accessible route to the main deck (the entry deck), and the requirement is satisfied. 9 If the single

- user toilet r ooms w ere not designated for men and w om en, the proposed guidelines require only one of the toilet rooms to be accessible. V213.2 Exception 4. 10 The proposed guidelines permit the rear grab bar at the w ater closet to be at least 24 inches (instead of 3 6 inches) long in this configuration. V604.5.2 Exception 1.5

toilet room, th e additional space is taken from a storage area located adjacent to the stair way to the engine room , and extend s over a corner of the stair way . 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 toilet room designs would add $ 1,800 to the vessel’s construction cost s .

**Figure 4**  **. Re**  **configured Women's and Men's Toilet Rooms** 
**5 . Protruding Objects**  There are four exterior stairway s on passenger circulation paths on the main and second decks. The proposed 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 stairway s and estimated the guardrails would add $ 2,400 to the vessel’s cons truction costs

. **6. Emergency Communications (new)**  The vessel has an audible general emergency alarm which sounds in areas open to passengers and is assumed to notify passengers of emergencies . The refore, the proposed guidelines require vis ible alarms t o be provided to notify passengers of emergencies

. V215.1. Adding vis ible alarms that serve external deck area s open to passengers and internal passenger spaces are estimated to increase the cost 11 of the new vessel by $9,700. In addition to a general al arm, the vessel has an installed public address s ys tem that is assume d to provide emergency information to passengers. Therefore, the propose d guidelines require a vessel

- wide assistive listening s ys tem to be provided serving all passenger areas . V219.2. 2. A FM (frequency modulation) assistive listening s ys tem serving all passenger areas is estimated to increase the cost 12 of the new vessel by $ 3,8 00.

11 The cost of visual general alarms is new to the updated study and the ferry representation has not reviewed the results. The cost w as estimated by using the results from the 120 passenger sm all cruise ship study that estimated 2008 visual alarms costs at about $0.86 to $1.08 per square feet. Adjusted to 2011, the average is $1.05. As the 40 car ferry has around 9,200 square feet of passenger area, the cost of coverage is estimated to be abo ut $9,700. 12 The requirements of V219.2.2 are new to the updated study and the ferry representative has not reviewed the results. The vessel

- wide ALS applies only to passenger areas, not crew only areas. No passenger areas6

**7 .**  **Electrical Power, Fuel Consumption, and Vessel Stability Impacts** The ferry has two 92 KW generat ors that have sufficient excess capacit y 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. 13 The ferr y representative esti mated that it would cost $1, 2 00 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 proposed guidelines would h ave minimal impact on vessel’s electrical power, fuel consumption, and stability

.

are assembly areas and the car deck is not a transportation seating area (TSA). Per V219.3, the number of receivers is determined by the number of fixed seats in TSA. In the new designs, the vessel has two TSA on the second deck with a maximum of 52 fixed seats. The ALS’s estimated c ost is $3,800; it requires 3 receivers with headsets/neckloops ($800), one FM transmitter w ith related support material ($1,400), and engineering, installation, and other expenses ($1,600). 13 The proposed guidelines require at least two accessible means o f escape (AMOE) from the second deck to the life raft embarkation stations on the main deck based on US Coast Guard requirements for tw o means of escape (MOE) . V207. 1
. The guidelines would probably expect platform lifts to have emergency power when used as part of an AMOE so as to provide an equivalent level of protection

. V207.1
. The case study includes a $1,200 cost to connect the platform lift to the emergency generator enabling this platform lift to be part of one AMOE, as desired by the operator. For the two exit stairways (required for the two MOE), one w as used in the new designs to be part of the second AMOE. Advisory V207.1. No protected w aiting areas are expected at the bottom and top of the exterior exit stair (or platform lift), since the se features are open to the w eather. Advisory V207.1. The proposed guidelines do not establish any requirements for both of these stair wa y s , excluding the protruding object provisions (see V204), so no change is necessary

.7 

### Other **Outcomes 8**  **. Accessible Route Within Main Deck** 14 The proposed guidelines require an accessible route to connect passenger entry points and accessible elements and s paces 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 stairway s leading to the second deck without overlapping the vehicle lanes. The ferry representat ive proposed to locate part of the accessible route to the platform lift and the toilet rooms in lane 1
. 15 The accessible route would overlap lane 1 for approximately 60 feet . The guidelines do not prohibit vehicles from occupying the space contai n ing th e accessible route (an d the accessible means of escape). V403.1 . Therefore, no parking spaces were lost in order to provide the accessible route 16

.

**Figure 5**  **. Main Deck**

**– Proposed Accessible Route** 
**9 .**  **Transportation Seating** There are 54 fixed seats on the second deck in two transportation seating areas . One area, the interior seat s of the enclosed passenger lounge (cabin), contains 12 seats at two tables and 18 other seats not at tables . The second area is exterior and contains 24 bench seats lo cated along the side of the lounge. Based on the 54 transportation seats provided, the proposed guidelines require one wheelchair space. V22 2.3.1
. T he case study provides three options for the new vessel designs.

14 The second deck has suffi cient space for an accessible route to connect the accessible elements and spaces within the deck. 15 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. 16 It should be noted that outside the design, construction and alteration requirements of the proposed guidelines, other ADA provisions in the regulations from DOT and DOJ may require vehicle lanes to rem ain open in certain areas to provide clear accessible routes and accessible means of escape for passengers with disabilities when the need arises.8

Option s 1 and 2

- P lace one wheelcha ir space at a table in the lounge which required the removal of four fixed seats 17 , or locate it at a non

- table seat which would require the removal of two seats

.

**Figure 6 .**  **Options 1 and 2**

**– Proposed Wheelchair Space**  **Location in**  **Lounge**

**(and Clear Deck S pace at One Drinking Fountain)**  Options 3

– Place the wheelchair space in the exterior bench seating area which would require the removal of seating for three passengers.

**Figure 7 .**  **Option 3**

**– Proposed Wheelchair Space**  **Location Outside the**  **Lounge (**  **a nd Clear Deck Space at One Drinking Fountain in**  **Lounge )**  Therefore, to provide one wheelchair space, two to four seats would need remov al, leaving 50 to 52 as the total number of fixed seats available

. Th is action is estimated to have an insignificant impact on the new vessel’s construction costs and passenger seating needs

.

17 As the wheelchair is approached from the side, it is required to be 60 inches long (and 36 inches wide). This length required a portio n (tw o seats) of another lounge bench to be removed.9 

### Summary The ferry representative estimated the cost for constructing the vessel based on the original designs to be approximately $ 8 million in 2006 dollars , updated to $9.56 millio n in 2011 dollars . The platform lift and other proposed designs to meet the proposed guidelines would add from $ 258,800 to $ 318,800 (average of $288,800) to the vessel’s (updated) construction costs, or a 3.0 percent increase

. Over 70 percent of the addi tional costs are attributed to the platform lift. Two to four fixed seats were lost on the second deck and one wheelchair space and one drinking fountain were added. The cost estimates are summarized below. **40 Car Vehicle Ferry 2006 Estimate**  **2011 Estima te**  **(average/rounded)** Construction Cost (original vessel) $ 8M $9.56M Emergency

Communications (update) 13,500 Platform L ift & Additional Deck Surface 150,000

- 200,000 209,000 Main Deck Slope and Cross Slope 50,000 59,700 Guardrails under Stairways 2,000 2,400 Toilet Rooms 1,500 1,800 Additional Drinking Fountain 1,000 1,200 Connect Platform L ift to Emergency Generator 1,000 1,200

**Total (% increase) $217,700** 

**– 267,700** 

**(2.7%**

**– 3.2%)**  **$ 288,800**  **( 3.0**  **%)**