Summaryof the

Presentation to the Steamship Authority’s Governing Board regarding the

Feasibility Study for Woods Hole Ferry Terminal Reconstruction Project

November 12, 2013

The Steamship Authority has engaged Bertaux+Iwerks Architects (BIA), along with the marine engineering firm of Moffatt & Nichol (M&N), to undertake a feasibility study for the reconstruction of the Woods Hole Ferry Terminal. The purpose of this meeting is to share progress on the alternatives being developed and to gain feedback from the Board and the community.

The design team began working with the Steamship Authority earlier this year to develop the program objectives for the project, to interview project stakeholders, and to conduct research on harbor currents and navigational constraints. BIA met with the Steamship Authority’s staff, as well as representatives of the Woods Hole Business Association, the Woods Hole Community Association, the Falmouth Planning Department and the Town Engineer to listen to everyone’s concerns and document their desired outcomes.

This presentation focuses on the team’s initial studies for alternative ways to approach terminal reconstruction. For all of the concept alternatives, the existing administrative offices and maintenance shops will need to be moved off-site to another location that is yet to be determined. The existing terminal building will be demolished, opening up views to the water, and the existing terminal pier will be partly removed to make way for a relocated slip #3. In all options there is the potential to devote more of the northern-most waterfront edge (current slip #3) to public use.

Slip Concepts: Each of the concept alternatives calls for maintaining three operational slips, realigning them 20 to 30 feet south along the waterfront, and extending the bulkhead approximately 70 feet further into the water. Several location alternatives were studied to improve vessel berthing and landside operations. The vehicle transfer bridges will also be lengthened from 30 to 50 feet and accessible side-boarding platforms will be provided for passengers. Each of the concept alternatives is based on the same slip re-configuration.

Concept A – Single Level. This concept looks at keeping the vehicle staging, bus loading/unloading location, and passenger pick-up/drop-off area at their current elevation of +7’. A 2-story terminal building is positioned parallel to Railroad Avenue and elevated to +13’ (six feet above grade) to comply with the flood zone requirements. All vehicular and pedestrian circulation to and from the ferries occurs on a single level. This alternative focuses primarily on improving the slip layouts. As a one-level approach, it does not physically separate pedestrian flow from vehicular movements and, as a result, the SSA would need to actively manage the ground transportation, staging areas and pedestrian traffic to ensure that the numerous on-site conflicts do not pose potentially unsafe conditions during peak season.

Concept B – Split Level. This study looks at placing the vehicle staging closer to the vessels at elevation +7’ and elevating the 2-story terminal building and land transportation operations onto a raised level, up 10 feet. This approach offers the potential to reuse fill material excavated from the existing terminal pier to create the bus transfer and pick-up/drop-off areas. The split level configuration enables pedestrian circulation to be separated from vehicles below, providing direct covered access to the ferries via overhead pedestrian bridges. Bus and pick-up/drop-off traffic entering and exiting the site is handled at the raised level, which should improve overall flow and convenience. Walkways and vertical circulation cores provide connections between the lower and raised levels.

Concept C – Two Levels. This study looks at creating a structured deck to facilitate bus and pick-up/drop-off operations on an upper level (+25’), with the terminal building serving as a gateway to the ferries beyond. Passengers arriving by bus alight on this upper level and proceed to ferries straight ahead via overhead covered bridges. Bus exit circulation loops back to Cowdry Road, eliminating the presence of buses on Railroad Avenue. The lower level (+7’) of the terminal is organized similarly to its current layout, with the vehicle staging oriented east-to-west under the deck, and ample room for metered, handicap, and employee parking. A vertical circulation core at the northwest corner of the terminal building provides a convenient connection between the lower and upper levels. The additional surface area created by the structured deck allows room below for public parking, greater bike path separation, and an enhanced buffer zone along Railroad Avenue.

HISTORIC IMAGES

CURRENT VIEWS

CONCEPT A - SINGLE LEVEL

CONCEPT B - SPLIT LEVEL

CONCEPT C - TWO LEVEL

OUTCOMETracker ™ bertaux + iwerks architects

PROJECT: WOODS HOLE FERRY TERMINAL CLIENT: STEAMSHIP AUTHORITY VERSION: OCTOBER 29, 2013 OUTCOME SCREEN

DESIRED OUTCOMES STE

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C

FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES

F1 Program max overall effectiveness of terminal operations F2 Flexibility max landside flexibility for staging different vehicle combinations

F3 Quality max durable, long-life construction of marine and land structures

F4 Phasing min disruption to operations during construction

F5 Security max ability to comply with Marsec 1, 2 and 3security screening and holding requirements

F6 Safety min risks to pedestrian and staff safety posed by vehicle movements

F7 Vessel Turnaround min the time it takes to unload and reload a vessel

F8 Congestion min level of congestion on landside at peak times

F9 Flood Zone min vulnerability of equipment and spaces during flood events

F10 Offices max ability to keep all offices on site

F11 Maintenance max ability to keep maintenance facilities on site

F12 Permitting min the time and effort it takes to permit the proposed design

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE OUTCOMES

E1 Customer Journey max ability of all arriving and departing travelers to navigate the terminal and grounds

E2E2 Personal Service max ability of staff to help people with questions

E3 Ticketing max ease of getting tickets and getting on vessel

E4 Transit Options max customer and neighborhood convenience of landside public transit options

E5 Weather Protection min passenger exposure to inclement weather between vessels and landside transportation

COMMUNITY OUTCOMES

C1 Traffic min likelihood of negative traffic impacts on local streets

C2 Public Restrooms max convenience of public restrooms that are accessible to all users

C3 Bike Path par maintain public access to bike path with improved egress

C4 Image max visual relationship between the terminal facility and Woods Hole

C5 Village Connections max ways that the terminal can feel connected to Woods Hole village

C6 Noise min the amount and volume of noise from backing vehicles

C7 Public Parking par maintain public parking on-site as possible

C8 Public Access par increase public access to water's edge as possible

PRIORITY DESIGN RESPONSE

critical excellent response

high very good response

mod good response

low poor response

none not responsive / not applicable

OUTCOMETracker ™ bertaux + iwerks architects

PROJECT: WOODS HOLE FERRY TERMINAL CLIENT: STEAMSHIP AUTHORITY VERSION: OCTOBER 29, 2013 OUTCOME SCREEN

DESIRED OUTCOMES STE

AM

SH

IP A

UTH

OR

ITY

PA

SS

ENG

ERS

FREI

GH

T C

AR

RIE

RS

WH

CO

MM

UN

ITY

PR

IOR

ITY

CO

NC

EPT

A

CO

NC

EPT

B

CO

NC

EPT

C

FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES

F1 Program max overall effectiveness of terminal operations F2 Flexibility max landside flexibility for staging different vehicle combinations

F3 Quality max durable, long-life construction of marine and land structures

F4 Phasing min disruption to operations during construction

F5 Security max ability to comply with Marsec 1, 2 and 3security screening and holding requirements

F6 Safety min risks to pedestrian and staff safety posed by vehicle movements

F7 Vessel Turnaround min the time it takes to unload and reload a vessel

F8 Congestion min level of congestion on landside at peak times

F9 Flood Zone min vulnerability of equipment and spaces during flood events

F10 Offices max ability to keep all offices on site

F11 Maintenance max ability to keep maintenance facilities on site

F12 Permitting min the time and effort it takes to permit the proposed design

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE OUTCOMES

E1 Customer Journey max ability of all arriving and departing travelers to navigate the terminal and grounds

E2E2 Personal Service max ability of staff to help people with questions

E3 Ticketing max ease of getting tickets and getting on vessel

E4 Transit Options max customer and neighborhood convenience of landside public transit options

E5 Weather Protection min passenger exposure to inclement weather between vessels and landside transportation

COMMUNITY OUTCOMES

C1 Traffic min likelihood of negative traffic impacts on local streets

C2 Public Restrooms max convenience of public restrooms that are accessible to all users

C3 Bike Path par maintain public access to bike path with improved egress

C4 Image max visual relationship between the terminal facility and Woods Hole

C5 Village Connections max ways that the terminal can feel connected to Woods Hole village

C6 Noise min the amount and volume of noise from backing vehicles

C7 Public Parking par maintain public parking on-site as possible

C8 Public Access par increase public access to water's edge as possible

PRIORITY DESIGN RESPONSE

critical excellent response

high very good response

mod good response

low poor response

none not responsive / not applicable