Daufuskie Island Public Ferry Services

Daufuskie Island Public Ferry Services

IMPORTANT NOTICE EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 13, 2017 Due to substantial damage to Palmetto Bay Marina caused by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016, residents with current parking decals issued by Palmetto Breeze Transit should park at Buckingham Landing at 35 Fording Island Road Extension until further notice. From Bluffton Go east on U.S. Highway 278. Watch for the BP Gas Station and Wesley s Fruit Stand on your right. Take a slight right turn onto Fording Island Road Extension and continue to the end. From Hilton Head Island Take U.S. Highway 278 West to Fording Island Road Extension. Watch for the BP Gas Station and Wesley s Fruit Stand on your left. Take a sharp left onto Fording Island Road Extension, which ends at the landing. For more information, contact Palmetto Breeze Transit at 843-757-5782.

Janet V. Bible Contents 1 Public Ferry Services Program Overview 2-3 4 Parking Photo ID Cards & Classification of Fares 5 Guidelines & Rules of Conduct 6 Cargo & Freight This guide is not a contract. The information is subject to change by the County Council of Beaufort County, South Carolina. The County is committed to providing a professional and safe public ferry services program. Comments or suggestions regarding the program should be sent via e-mailed to: bcvendors@bcgov.net. Beaufort County Government (Eligibility for ID Cards & Parking) Telephone: 843-255-6055 E-mail: bcvendors@bcgov.net Daufuskie Island Ferry Service, LLC (Tickets & Schedule) Telephone: 843-940-7704 E-mail: info@daufuskieislandferry.com Palmetto Breeze Transit (Issuance of ID Cards & Parking Decals) Telephone: 843-757-5782 E-mail: mthompson@palmettobreezetransit.com

Monica Spells Public Ferry Services Program Overview Effective August 1, 2016, the County Council of Beaufort County, South Carolina ( Beaufort County or the County ) has a contract with Daufuskie Island Ferry Service, LLC ( Ferry Contractor ) to provide limited public ferry transportation services for residents and property owners of Daufuskie Island, South Carolina. The Ferry Contractor is responsible for transporting passengers between Palmetto Bay Marina on Hilton Head Island and Melrose Landing on Daufuskie Island (map and directions). Beaufort County does not set the ferry schedule. The Ferry Contractor is responsible for setting and publishing the ferry schedule, which may change due to weather or vessel conditions. Passengers should contact the Ferry Contractor directly with questions regarding the ferry schedule, which is published online at www.daufuskieislandferry.com. Daufuskie Island residents and other property owners, to include immediate household members of full-time residents and minor dependents of non-full-time residents, seeking public ferry transportation must obtain a photo identification (ID) card via the Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority dba Palmetto Breeze Transit ( Palmetto Breeze ). Minors age four or younger are not required to have an ID card and may ride without a ticket. Beaufort County makes final determinations regarding authorizations for ID cards. 1

Vivien Bikulege Photo ID Cards and Classification of Fares Beaufort County makes final determinations regarding authorizations for photo ID cards, which are issued by Palmetto Breeze at four different classification levels: Level 1 - Orange ticket - $2 one-way Full-Time Resident Students (age 5 to 18). Full-Time Resident Seniors (age 65 and older). Residents or property owners with disabilities (must submit proof of restriction). Level 2 - Pink ticket - $3 one-way Full-Time Resident Homeowner Owner (4% property tax rate). Eligibility determined by records of the Beaufort County Assessor s Office. Beaufort County may request copy of closing documents to verify recent purchases and/or new home construction. Level 3 - Green ticket - $4 one-way Full-Time Resident Renter. Must provide a copy of a signed lease/rental agreement from landlord and/or property owner verifying rental term for a period of at least one year. The County may request a notarized statement. Level 4 - Yellow ticket - $7 one-way Non-Full-Time Daufuskie Island Property or Homeowner (6% property tax rate). Eligibility determined by records of the Beaufort County Assessor s Office. If the designated status of an ID card holder has changed, it is the responsibility of the card holder to notify Palmetto Breeze. Failure to update the status of an ID card could result in denial of access to the public ferry service until the appropriate change is completed. 2

Peggy Copley Individuals seeking a photo ID card for public ferry services to Daufuskie Island should apply to Beaufort County at 843-255-6055 or bcvendors@bcgov.net. Once eligibility has been determined, approval will be given to schedule an appointment with Palmetto Breeze to set up an appointment for having an ID card made. Once the photo ID card is issued, one is eligible to purchase ferry tickets at the applicable discounted rate. Non-discount tickets can be purchased online at www.daufuskieislandferry.com. Ticket Outlets: General Store at Marshside Mama s, 15 Haig Point Road, Daufuskie Island (map) - (843) 785-4755) Island House at Melrose, 55 Avenue of the Oaks, Daufuskie Island (map) - (843) 341-2922 Palmetto Bay Marina Charter Office, 86 Helmsman Way, Hilton Head Island (map) - (843) 785-7131 Palmetto Breeze, 25 Benton Field Drive, Bluffton (map) - (843) 757-5782 Important Reminders: Individuals should only purchase tickets for the level reflected on their ID card. Tickets presented to board the ferry must match the holder s ID card. No more than thirty tickets may be purchased at one time. The first ID card will be issued at no cost to the applicant. The cost for replacing an ID card is twenty-five dollars ($25.00). Questions regarding ferry service should be directed to the Ferry Contractor at 843-940-7704. 3

Vivien Bikulege Parking Beaufort County, when feasible, negotiates for a limited number of parking spaces to accommodate passenger vehicles of full-time residents, with first priority going to full-time property owners and second priority going to full-time renters maintaining a minimum twelve-month lease on Daufuskie Island. Full-time renters should receive spaces only after full-time property owners interested in obtaining a space have received an opportunity to get one. Due to the limited number of available spaces and high demand, parking spaces are assigned one space per full-time household, regardless of the number of occupants or vehicles associated with a household. Parking spaces may be requested by contacting Palmetto Breeze, which will review spaces on a month-to-month basis, to allow all full-time residents an opportunity to secure a space without any resident maintaining a monopoly. The County makes final determinations regarding parking eligibility. The fee for parking will be established by Beaufort County. The current fee is $30 per month. The current parking area has been established at Palmetto Bay Marina on Hilton Head Island. Palmetto Breeze issues parking decals. Vehicles parked in the County-subsidized parking area are subject to inspection. Vehicles without a current decal may be towed at the owner s expense. The County assumes no liability for the condition, security, or contents of the vehicles parked at Palmetto Bay Marina. EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 2016 Due to substantial damage to Palmetto Bay Marina caused by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016, residents with current parking decals issued by Palmetto Breeze Transit should park at Oyster Factory Park at 63 Wharf Street in Bluffton until further notice. For more information, contact Palmetto Breeze Transit at 843-757-5782. 4

Nick Cole Guidelines and Rules of Conduct The instructions and guidance of ferry staff must be followed at all times. Any passenger failing to follow guidelines and rules of conduct may be refused transit. Any ID card holder found violating the guidelines for use of the ID card or purchase of tickets may have their privileges rescinded. Seats on the vessels are provided on a space available basis, regardless of the level of ID card holder. All passengers must be prepared to show their ID card and matching ticket upon boarding a vessel. Any passenger unable to show their ID card and matching ticket may be refused transit. Passengers are requested to wait in the staging area until the boarding call is made. Passengers must be appropriately dressed (shoes and shirts are required). Smoking is not allowed on any ferry vessel. Headphones should be used when listening to music or other audio programs on personal devices. Passengers are responsible for collecting their personal items when leaving a ferry vessel. Passengers finding items left behind should turn them into ferry staff. Lost and found inquiries should be made to the Ferry Contractor at 843-940-7704. Beaufort County nor the Ferry Contractor are responsible for the personal belongings of passengers. Eating or drinking on any ferry vessel is not allowed, with the exception of bottled water (no glass containers allowed). Passengers with personal pets must keep them in the designated area determined by ferry staff. Guide dogs or trained personal assistant animals can accompany their owner. 5

Joan Eckhardt Cargo and Freight Ticket prices do not reflect any costs associated with cargo or freight as determined necessary by the Ferry Contractor. Cargo and freight handling is the personal responsibility of passengers through terms set by the Ferry Contractor. The County is not involved in matters regarding cargo and freight. The Ferry Contractor is responsible for the safe transport of passengers and cargo, and may deny or limit the quantity or types of carry-on baggage, if deemed a potential operational hazard to ferry vessels and/or the comfort of other passengers. Passengers may bring aboard a reasonable amount of personal baggage, to include groceries. Ferry staff will help store items prior to departure, so timely arrival at the ferry embarkation is important. Cargo is shipped on a first come first-served basis. Any cargo which cannot be carried aboard must be checked in prior to the departure time, allowing sufficient time for ferry staff to unload, identify, load, and transport it to the vessel. The instructions and guidance of ferry staff regarding cargo and other operations must be followed at all times. Prohibited Cargo/Freight Items: Leaking liquid-filled batteries. Any containers with leaking liquids. Gasoline or other highly-flammable liquids. Lighter fluid or gasoline torch fluid over one quart. Pesticides, poisons, or other hazardous chemicals over one gallon. Propane gas tanks over 20 pounds (no more than 6 propane gas tanks are allowable on the vessel). Firearms (unless unloaded in a case and checked as baggage). Fireworks (unless clearly marked in an open container and checked as baggage). See www.daufuskieislandferry.com for more information. 6

COUNTY COUNCIL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY SOUTH CAROLINA Post Office Drawer 1228 Beaufort, SC 29901-1228 www.bcgov.net Front Cover Photo Dave Shipper Back Cover Photo Thomas Korbutt Design and Publication Beaufort County Communications and Accountability Department 7th edition August 2016 12.28.16