are isolated away from the existing structure. This small footprint also allows the landings to be easily removed and relocated if ridership demands suggest adjustments to the route. The design also upgraded NYC Ferry System’s ability to withstand extreme environmental events and facilitate quick responses due to its inherent flexibility – from both an engineering standpoint and an operational one. The isolation of the floating barge structure from upland components, design of minimally restrained gangways, and inclusion of contingency features all contribute to improving func- tionality and durability when faced with extreme conditions. The floating barge is the primary means of protecting the terminal against damages that could jeopardize ferry service after extreme storm events. The most recent FEMA Flood Insurance maps available iden- tify that the water levels anticipated with a 100-year storm would overtop the seawall at all the terminal locations considered. Thus, any non-watertight electrical or mechanical components located on land or a fixed pier at the upland elevation would be subject to severe water damage that would make the terminal inoperable for several days to weeks. By providing a floating barge structure and hinged gangway seated on this barge, the barge deck and portions of the gangway become safe surfaces to mount. The new design and construction of all 11 landings including Asto- ria, Roosevelt Island, Long Island City North, Atlantic Ave/Brooklyn Bridge Park, Red Hook/Atlantic Basin, Bay Ridge, Rockaway, Sound- view, East 90th Street, Stuyvesant Cove/East 20th Street and Corlears Hook/Grand Street, were completed on time and are ready to connect residents and commuters across the city as post-pandemic activities begin to resume. Currently, McLaren is working on the next round of NYC Ferry System improvements including renovation of two facilities and the design and installation of three additional landings. They are also lead- ing the development of a new homeport and maintenance facility for the fleet at Atlantic Basin in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The development of this new site (Homeport II) will provide proper care and protection for approximately 40 vessel slips, and include utility and finger piers for fleet maintenance, and offer repairs and inspection with an additional
travel lift. This centralized location will offer protection from vessel traffic in the Buttermilk Channel. For the feasibility phase of the Homeport II project, marine engineers and in-house divers deployed an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) to measure the waves, wakes, and current velocities caused by environmental conditions and passing vessels. This in-house tool collected information for two months and relayed detailed site data that McLaren’s design team used to develop the facility layout for both day-to-day serviceability and long-term resiliency. Planned completion of the landings for the NYC Ferry System ex- pansion is set for 2022 with the first phase of Homeport II (19 Slips) coming online in Spring of 2023.
STEPHEN A. FAMULARO, PE, D.PE is Vice President of Marine Engineering at McLaren Engineering Group.
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may 2021
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