Int. No. 1149

By Council Members Farías, Brooks-Powers and Avilés

 A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to language accessibility at ferry terminals

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Section 19-305 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new subdivision c to read as follows:

c. At each city owned and operated ferry terminal, the department shall provide all written information regarding, to the extent applicable, ferry schedules, fares, and tickets in the designated citywide languages, as defined in section 23-1101, and any other language deemed appropriate by the department.

§ 2. Section 19-308 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 47 for the year 2023, is amended to read as follows:

§ 19-308 [Fares for contracted] Contracted ferry service.

a. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following definitions:

Administering agency. The term “administering agency” means an office or agency designated by the mayor to implement and administer the provisions of this section.

Airport route. The term “airport route” means a ferry route operated by a contracted ferry service that provides transport by ferry to an airport.

Contracted ferry terminal. The term “contracted ferry terminal” means a ferry terminal operated by a third-party operator pursuant to a contract with the city, or with an entity that contracts with the city to provide or administer economic development benefits on behalf of the city.

Contracted ferry service. The term “contracted ferry service” means the provision of mass transportation via ferry by a third-party operator pursuant to a contract with the city, or with an entity that contracts with the city to provide or administer economic development benefits on behalf of the city.

Person with a disability. The term “person with a disability” means a natural person with a physical or mental condition that on a permanent or temporary basis substantially limits one or more life activities, who is able to provide documentation relating to such condition, such as an award letter from the social security administration, the railroad retirement board or the United States postal service or a certificate from the state commission for the blind.

Seasonal route. The term “seasonal route” means a ferry route operated by a contracted ferry service that operates only on certain days or during certain months of the year.

Special route. The term “special route” means an airport route or a seasonal route.

Standard fare. The term “standard fare” means the cost of a single-ride ticket to access a contracted ferry service for a person who is not eligible for any discount, including any discount based on the time of day a ticket is purchased or used.

Student. The term “student” means any person who is enrolled in grade 9, 10, 11 or 12, or is enrolled without an assigned grade, in a school of the city school district of the city of New York or a charter school that is located within the city of New York.

b. In accordance with this section, the cost to access a contracted ferry service, other than on a special route, shall be no greater than half of a standard fare for any:

(i) person who is age 65 or older;

(ii) person with a disability who is age 18 or over;

(iii) participant, as defined in section 12-01 of title 68 of the rules of the city of New York, in the program established pursuant to chapter 12 of such title; and

(iv) student, for the purpose of traveling to or from school.

c. To access a contracted ferry service at a cost no greater than half of a standard fare pursuant to paragraph (i), (ii), or (iii) of subdivision b of this section, a person must file an application with the administering agency, or, where the contracted ferry service is provided by a third-party operator pursuant to a contract with an entity that contracts with the city to provide or administer economic development benefits on behalf of such city, with such entity or an agent designated by such entity. Such application shall be in such form and manner as determined by such administering agency or such entity. Such administering agency, or such entity or such entity’s agent, may require that a person submit proof that such person is eligible to access a contracted ferry service at a cost no greater than half of a standard fare pursuant to paragraph (i), (ii) or (iii) of subdivision b of this section. Such proof may include, but need not be limited to a valid driver’s license or other form of government-issued identification, an award letter from the social security administration, or a written determination of eligibility for the program established pursuant to chapter 12 of title 68 of the rule of the city of new work, issued pursuant to subdivision (c) of section 12-03 of such title.

d. At each contracted ferry terminal, all written information regarding ferry schedules, fares, and tickets shall be provided in the designated citywide languages, as defined in section 23-1101, and any other language deemed appropriate by the third-party operator or the administering agency.

§ 3. This local law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law.

KF

LS #17368

11/13/2024 11:09 AM