§ 19-705 Accessible route.
AC § 19-705
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.
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.
(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.
