Section 19-705. Accessible route

Except  as  may  otherwise be set forth
  herein, there shall be at least one accessible route (i) to, (ii)  into,
  (iii)  onto  and  (iv)  throughout  any  water  borne  commuter services
  facility consisting of a continuous,  firm,  stable  and  slip-resistant
  path  that  is  maintained free of ice and snow; provided, however, that
  except as may be required pursuant to federal  or  state  law,  rule  or
  regulation,  no water borne commuter services facility shall be required
  to modify or install an elevator in order to satisfy the requirements of
  this chapter. No accessible route may have any vertical steps  or  rises
  greater  than  1/2  inch  unless  made  accessible by ramps, gangways or
  transition plates complying with this section. No accessible  route  may
  require  that  use  thereof or accessibility thereto be conditioned upon
  prearrangement except to the extent a ticket must be purchased  or  fare
  must be paid. An accessible route shall provide or satisfy the following
  additional criteria, as applicable:
    a. Points of embarkation and disembarkation. Each point of embarkation
  and  disembarkation  shall  provide  or  satisfy  each  of the following
  criteria:
    1. A minimum clear width of 36  inches,  exclusive  of  any  bulwarks,
  lifelines,  deck  rails and toe rails; provided, however, that where the
  main deck area of a water borne  commuter  vessel  is  less  than  3,000
  square  feet, such clear width shall be at least 32 inches, exclusive of
  any bulwarks, lifelines, deck rails and toe rails.
    2. Doors and doorways with a minimum width  of  32  inches;  provided,
  however,  that  any projections into such clear opening shall be mounted
  at least 34 inches  above  the  finished  deck  surface;  and  provided,
  further,  that  any  projections  situated  34 inches or higher than the
  finished deck surface and 80 inches or  lower  from  the  finished  deck
  surface shall not exceed 4 inches.
    3.  Transition  plates  or  ramps  with a maximum slope of 1:12, or as
  close thereto as is feasible for access to water borne commuter  vessels
  and the inner cabins of such vessels that have steps or coamings leading
  into  such  cabins;  provided,  however, that such transition plates and
  ramps may be removable. With respect to  water  borne  commuter  vessels
  designed  or  constructed  after  the date of enactment of the local law
  that added this chapter, removable  coamings  shall  be  utilized  where
  feasible  and  permitted  by  the United States Coast Guard, pursuant to
  title 14  of  the  United  States  code  or  any  rules  or  regulations
  promulgated pursuant thereto.
    4. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, wherever
  there  are  multiple points of embarkation or disembarkation, and two or
  more such points are simultaneously utilized at any given docking,  only
  one such point need comply with the provisions of this section.
    b.  Gangways.  Gangways shall provide or satisfy each of the following
  criteria:
    1. Handrails on each side.
    2. A minimum clear width of 36 inches, which width shall  be  measured
  between the inside edges of handrails.
    3.  A maximum running slope of 1:12 and a maximum cross slope of 1:48,
  subject to reasonable and minor variations  under  extreme  and  unusual
  tidal conditions.
    4. Edge protection on each side.
    5.  A  design  that  ensures  that no water will accumulate on walking
  surfaces.
    6. A rise which may exceed 30 inches.
    7. A length which may exceed 30 feet between level landings; provided,
  however, that such slope may not exceed 1:12 subject to  reasonable  and
  minor variations under extreme and unusual tidal conditions.

    c.  Transition plates. Transition plates shall provide or satisfy each
  of the following criteria:
    1. A maximum slope of 1:12.
    2. A minimum clear width of 36 inches.
    3.  Handrails  on  each  side,  where the length of a transition plate
  exceeds 24 inches.
    4. The transition from  the  deck  to  the  transition  plate  may  be
  vertical without edge treatment up to 1/4 inch. Changes in level between
  1/4 inch and 1/2 inch shall be beveled with a slope no greater than 1:2.
    5.  Transition  plates  that  are  36  inches  or less in length shall
  support a minimum load of 300 lbs. Transition plates  that  are  greater
  than  36  inches  in length shall support a minimum load of 100 lbs. per
  square foot.
    d. On board maneuvering space and clear paths.  On  board  maneuvering
  space  and  clear  paths  shall provide or satisfy each of the following
  criteria:
    1. An on board maneuvering space shall be  provided  adjacent  to  the
  accessible  opening  in the bulwarks, lifelines, deck rails or toe rails
  which is either (i) 60 inches minimum by 60 inches minimum  or  (ii)  42
  inches  minimum  in  depth  and  starting at one side of the opening and
  extending 80 inches minimum in width across the opening (see  figure  1,
  L-Shaped Space, as set forth in this subdivision).
    2.  At  least  one clear path of at least 32 inches in width shall run
  from each point of embarkation  and  disembarkation  to  all  facilities
  available  to  the  general  public  on  the  level  of such water borne
  commuter  services  vessel  where   such   point   of   embarkation   or
  disembarkation is located.
 
     ______________________________________________________________
     1                                                            |
     2                                                            |
     3          COPY OF FIGURE 1                                  |
     4          MAY BE OBTAINED FROM:                             |
     5          NYS LEGISLATIVE BILL DRAFTING COMMISSION          |
     6          CONTACT: LEGISLATIVE RETRIEVAL SYSTEM'S HELPLINE  |
     7                                                            |
     8                                                            |
     9____________________________________________________________|
                       NOTE: A and B = Door Locations
                      _________________________________
                               L-Shaped Space
    FIGURE 1
    e.  Clear deck spaces. Clear deck spaces shall provide or satisfy each
  of the following criteria:
    1. Measure at least 30 inches by at least 48 inches for  placement  of
  wheelchairs,  exclusive  of  legroom  for  other  passengers. Such clear
  spaces may also be provided in the form of readily folding or  removable
  seats.
    2.  A  tie  down  system  that  complies  with subdivision (f) of this
  section.
    3. The number of clear deck spaces shall  be  provided  in  accordance
  with  Table  1 of this subdivision and shall be dispersed throughout the
  water borne commuter vessel's passenger areas; provided,  however,  that
  at  least one such space shall be provided on any outdoor passenger area
  on water borne commuter vessels with a  passenger  capacity  of  101  or
  more.
 
                         Table 1. Clear Deck Spaces

  Passenger capacity of water borne commuter vessel      Minimum Number
  0 to 100                                               2
  101 to 149                                             4
  150 and above                                          6
 
    4.  This  subdivision  does  not  apply  to  spaces  reachable only by
  vertical or inclined ladder.
    f. Tie-down systems. Tie-down systems for securing wheelchairs  within
  water  borne  commuter  vessels  shall  provide  or  satisfy each of the
  following criteria:
    1.  Each  tie-down  system  shall  consist  of  any  tie-down   system
  acceptable  for  taxi,  van  or bus transportation as provided under the
  United States department of transportation regulations or  four  d-rings
  securely fastened to the deck.
    2.  Where  d-rings  are  used, lashings, also known as marine-strength
  quality rope, shall be provided to secure a wheelchair to the d-rings.
    3. Security belts for securing disabled persons in  their  wheelchairs
  for use by disabled persons at their discretion.
    g.  Toilet  rooms.  Where  one  or more toilet rooms are provided on a
  water borne commuter vessel at least one such toilet room shall  provide
  or satisfy each of the following criteria:
    1.  An  entry  door  with  a clear width of at least 32 inches that is
  capable of being opened and closed by the occupant.
    2. A maneuvering space of at least 48 inches in depth and at least  80
  inches  in width outside the entry door (see figure 1, subdivision (d));
  provided, however, that where the entry door has a  clear  width  of  at
  least  42 inches, the maneuvering space at the door shall be at least 32
  inches by 48 inches.
    3. A horizontal grab bar at least 24 inches in length and  located  33
  inches  to 36 inches above the finished deck surface and adjacent to the
  toilet; provided, however, that this  requirement  shall  not  apply  to
  those  water  borne commuter vessels the deck length of which is 48 feet
  or less.
    4. A toilet positioned 17 inches to 19 inches above the finished  deck
  surface, measured to the top of the toilet seat.
    5.  Clear  deck  space  of  at  least  30 inches by at least 48 inches
  adjacent to the toilet.
    6. Notwithstanding anything to  the  contrary  contained  herein,  any
  water  borne  commuter  vessel with a passenger capacity of 1000 or more
  persons currently scheduled to be decommissioned before November 1, 2005
  shall be exempt from the requirements of this subdivision.
    h. Vessel loading equipment. Vessel loading equipment shall provide or
  satisfy each of the following criteria:
    1. A maximum slope of 1:12 where  feasible;  provided,  however,  that
  where achieving such a maximum slope is not feasible, any vessel loading
  equipment   exceeding   such  slope  shall  comply  with  the  following
  additional criteria:
    (i) A slope no greater than 1:10.
    (ii) Must be designed and operated such that disabled persons are able
  to embark onto and disembark from a water borne commuter vessel  without
  water  borne  commuter  services facilities personnel pushing, carrying,
  pulling, lifting or otherwise physically handling disabled persons.
    2. Deck surfaces that do not have protrusions from the surface greater
  than 1/4 inch.
    3. No opening along the bottom surface shall permit passage of  a  1/2
  inch  diameter  sphere.  Elongated  openings shall be placed so that the
  long dimension is perpendicular to the predominant direction of travel.
    4. Handrails on each side.

    5. A minimum clear width of 36 inches, which width shall  be  measured
  between  the  inside  edges  of handrails; provided, however, that where
  vessel loading equipment leads directly to a  point  of  embarkation  or
  disembarkation  that  is  permitted  to  be 32 inches in width under the
  terms  of  this  chapter,  such vessel loading equipment may narrow to a
  width of 32 inches at  that  end  that  abuts  such  32  inch  point  of
  embarkation or disembarkation.
    6. Edge protection on each side.
    7.  Any vessel loading equipment that is 30 inches or longer in length
  shall support a minimum load of 600 lbs. placed at the  center  of  such
  vessel loading equipment and distributed over an area of 26 inches by 26
  inches,  with  a  safety  factor  of  at  least  3 based on the ultimate
  strength of the material.  Vessel  loading  equipment  shorter  than  30
  inches shall support a minimum load of 300 lbs.