Access for Persons with Disabilities to Passenger Vessels and Shore Facilities.The Impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

摘要

This study is an assessment of the feasibility of implementation of the Americanswith Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) in the passenger vessel industry. The results are findings on technical feasibility and a set of cost data based on assumed access solutions. This exploration of implementation issues will be the basis for future decision making by the Department in the matter of access to waterborne transportation and accommodation assets. The scope of the cost calculations includes new construction and alterations for the U.S. Coast Guard inspected passenger vessel fleet, and access provisions to the vessels over the piers and docks serving the fleet. The study significantly advances the knowledge of waterborne access for persons with disablilities as well as identifying several areas where more work is needed to fully understand the implementation impacts of the ADA.