DAUFUSKIE FERRY SERVICES HANDBOOK PROTOCOL for FERRY SERVICE PROVISION
05/4/2008 Revised 7/1/08
Short Range- Propose means of providing management of funding and ticketing services for ferry services to and from Daufuskie Island, SC using Palmetto Breeze / LRTA infrastructure.
Long Range- Evaluate and plan interstate (GA & SC) mass transit system.
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Contents Page
FERRY ACCESS AND FARE SCHEDULE: 3 & 4 IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURE: 4 & 5 RULES & REGULATIONS: 6 & 7
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FERRY ACCESS AND FARE SCHEDULE:
Beaufort County has made arrangements with two ferry companies to provide access to ferry transportation on a space available base for Daufuskie Island landowners, residents and their guests.
The two ferry companies are J & W Corporation, Inc. and the Daufuskie Island Resort and Breathe Spa. One should contact the carriers direct for their schedule.
J & W Corporation ferry operates from of Broad Creek Marina (18 Simmons Road, Hilton Head Island) and Freeport Marina (Daufuskie Island).
Daufuskie Island Resort and Breathe Spa ferry operates from Salty Fare Marina (Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island) and Melrose Marina (Daufuskie Island).
IMPORTANT NOTE: Access to the Daufuskie Island Resort and Breathe Spa service may expire September 30, 2008. Tickets purchased for this ferry must be used prior to that deadline.
All rates are one way. Qualifications for each level are outlined below.
Level One (1) Senior Citizens, Students, Disabled or Handicapped - $2.00
MUST BE FULL-TIME RESIDENT
Current Student ID Card from County, State, or acknowledged private educational institution, MD certification as provided by PB re: medical restriction(s), typical identification as issued by SCDHEC or similar institution.
SOURCE: Individual must provide when applying for ID Card. Verification can be requested by PB if deemed necessary.
Level Two (2) Full-time resident, Homeowner/4% taxpayer - $3.00
4% eligibility as vetted by County Assessor's Office
SOURCE: Individual must provide PB when applying for ID Card. Vetted against County Tax Assessor provided master list.
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Level Three (3) Full-time resident/renter, Non-landowner $4.00
Individual known by DICIC members to be a full-time, non-property owning resident.
SOURCE: Affidavit from DICIC Ferry Committee that individual is a resident qualifying for this level.
Level Four (4) Non-resident Landowners $ 7.00
6% eligibility as standard for nonresident landowner; property tax verification from County
Source: Individual must specify to PB when applying for ID Card. Vetted against County Tax Assessor's master list.
Level Five (5) Resident's Guests/Visitors - $5.00
Call in or verification by any of the first three levels to make reservations.
Level Six (6) Non-resident Landowner's Guests/Visitors $9.00
Call in or verification by the 4th Level non-resident reservations.
Additional explanation and instructions:
1) For 1st level PB will use existing PB rules of qualification for senior citizen level, BCBOE provides and maintains student identification, or students of other school systems will provide PB with verifiable student status, for 2nd and 4th levels County will provide PB eligible persons listing, updated quarterly via tax records.
2) County and the DICIC Ferry Committee will jointly qualify 3rd level participants via monthly DICIC meetings and recording of participant eligibility.
3) Identification cards for each level will be issued at the PB Benton Field Office, Bluffton, as qualified and registered at the PB Benton Field Office.
Directions to the Palmetto Breeze Benton Filed Office are:
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1. From the intersection of Highway 278 / Fording Island Rd, 2. If east bound on Hwy 278 turn right onto Burnt Church Rd, if westbound on 278 turn left onto Burnt Church Rd, 3. Go 1.6 miles to Ulmer Rd, just past the Michael C. Riley School on your right, 4. Turn left onto Ulmer Rd, go 0.3 mile to Benton Field Rd and turn left for 0.1 mile, 5. Pass Bft Cty Public Works on right, Costal Concrete plant on left, 6. Turn right into Palmetto Breeze Site, park at left side parking area and go to Administrative Office on left side of building end of building.
IDENTIFICATION & REGISTRATION PROCEDURE:
1. An applicant must contact Ms. Rory Barksdale or designee Wednesday - Friday between 8:00 A.M. & 12:00 Noon, and 1:00 P.M. & 4:00 P.M. at 843.757.5782 or email lrtadispatch@hargary.com to confirm that you are one of the lists Ms. Barksdale maintains,
2. IMPORTANT: If on a list, the applicant MUST SCHEDULE AN Appointment with Ms. Barksdale or designee to visit the Bluffton PB office for issuance of an ID card.
3. If name is not on a taxpayer's list, the applicant must contact Mr. Morris C. Campbell, Beaufort County Executive Director for Community Services or designee, at 843.470.2600 or email: morrisc@bcgov.net and request County verification of property ownership on Daufuskie Island. Upon verification, one's name will be added to the appropriate list.
4. When issued a color coded picture ID card, the applicant can now either purchase a ticket or ticket books from PB Bluffton via USPS mail, or from PB Bluffton office, Broad Creek Marina on Hilton Head Island, Marshside Mama's or Freeport Marina on Daufuskie Island. a. The applicant can only purchase tickets for the level reflected on their ID card. b. There will be a limit of thirty (30) tickets purchased at one time. c. Any tickets issued will match the rider ID echelon when presented at boarding any ferry. d. The list of eligible riders will be reviewed monthly as a part of the DICIC monthly meeting. Any revisions will be forwarded to County, School Board, & PB. Likewise, any revisions from these agencies will be forwarded to DICIC. e. There is no fee for issuing the first ID card.
f. REPLACEMENT OF LOST CARDS WILL COST BEARER $25 PRIOR TO Issuance OF NEW CARD.
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RULES & REGULATIONS:
Effective July 1, 2008:
1. If required by an operator, all seats will be reserved in advance. 2. All seats are space available; no special consideration is expected for ID card holders. 3. Freight handling is the personal business of the individual using the system: a. Baggage & freight are limited to single pedestrian trip carry-on quantities b. Vessel operators may, at the discretion of the vessel Captain, deny quantities or types of carry-on baggage or freight if deemed a potential hazard to the safe operation of the vessel and/or comfort of other passengers. c. No fees or other expenses related to baggage or freight are included in the issued ticket privileges. 4. Identification Cards are to be provided by Palmetto Breeze and are subject to the following: a. Identification Cards are the property of Palmetto Breeze and may be confiscated or withdrawn by Palmetto Breeze at the sole discretion of the Executive Director of Palmetto Breeze. b. ID Cards are color coded to indicate the ticket class the bearer is entitled to purchase and use. c. A bearer can purchase tickets only for the ticket class indicated by their issued ID card. d. Any ID card bearer attempting to purchase, sell, or otherwise violate the intent of service related to these tickets may have their card seized, rescinded, or invalidated by Palmetto Breeze. e. All ticket users must be prepared to how their ID card and matching ticket upon boarding a vessel. f. Any individual unable to show matching and current ID Cards and tickets may be refused transit on a vessel. g. It will remain that individual's responsibility to obtain passage otherwise. h. Any individual attempting to use ID card or ticket in violation of ticketing intent may have their issued ID card rescinded per "4a" above. 5. Parking is not included in the ticketing process. Some designated parking may be available but is not guaranteed. 6. Daufuskie Island Community Improvement Club (DICIC) or designee will vouch for the resident status of Level 3 ID Card bearers.
a. It will be the card applicant's responsibility to assure they qualify for the 3rd level ID card.
b. The DICIC will maintain a monthly meeting at 5:30 P.M. on the 1st Wednesday of each month to review and verify residents for Level 3 eligibility.
c. The DICIC designated Ferry Committee (DICICF) will review and qualify those applicants.
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d. Qualifications will be based on the following considerations:
1. Applicant is known by three or more level 2 ID Cardholders as a resident, or
2. Applicant can show proof of residence for more than six months via utility bills, P.O. Box rental, USPS addressed first class mail, addressed paycheck stubs bearing local address, or other documentation acceptable to DICICF review.
7. This protocol will remain in effect as long as the County has a working agreement with identified vendors; however, as the need to make adjustments arises due to a change in vendors or their operations, this protocol will be amended accordingly.
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For additional information contact: Mr. Morris C. Campbell Beaufort County Executive Director for Community Services 843.470.2600 or email: morrisc@bcgov.net ________________________________________________
Would you like to be among those who are working to improve Daufuskie's "public" ferry service?
... a "public" ferry that provides an equal level of serve to the "PUBLIC'" regardless of your Daufuskie residential status, landowner/taxpayer status or the issuance of a color coded "ID Card"?
... a "public" ferry that offers ridership to the "public" it is intended to serve?
... a "public" ferry providing adequate parking?
Then use the form to the right to have your comments included among those that are submitted to Beaufort County Government and other elected officials.
... because by working together we can let Beaufort County Government, and other elected officials, know that Daufuskie's "public" ferry should be just that ... "PUBLIC!"
- Daufuskie's "PUBLIC" Ferry -
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Come join in on ALL the FUN! at Daufuskie -unspoiled- sea island gem. ™
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