IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING TICKET PRICES: EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2018, ALL TICKET PRICES WILL INCREASE BY ONE DOLLAR ($1).

Daufuskie Island Public Ferry Services

Updated May 2018 Contents

Public Ferry Services 1 Program Overview

Photo ID Cards & 2-3 Classification of Fares

4 Parking

Guidelines & 5 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 program. Comments or suggestions regarding the program should be sent via e-mail to: [email protected].

Beaufort County Government (Eligibility for ID Cards) Telephone: 843-255-6055 E-mail: [email protected]

Daufuskie Island Ferry Service, LLC (Ferry Schedule and Parking) Telephone: 843-940-7704 E-mail: [email protected]

Palmetto Breeze Transit (Issuance of ID Cards and Tickets) Telephone: 843-757-5782

E-mail: [email protected] JanetBible V. 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 subject to funding availability.

The Ferry Contractor is responsible for transporting passengers between Buckingham Landing in Bluffton 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 property owners and renters, 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.

1 MonicaSpells 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).  Based on 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.

Important Reminders:  Fare prices are subject to change.

 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.

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING TICKET PRICES: EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2018, ALL TICKET PRICES WILL INCREASE BY ONE DOLLAR ($1).

The County has not adjusted the price of ferry tickets in several years, yet overall program costs continue to rise to accommodate service demand. Therefore, we expect to adjust ticket prices over at least the next two fiscal years, beginning with a one-dollar increase for fiscal year 2019.

NOTE FOR CLARIFICATION:

The student ID card (level 1) is limited to full-time residents age 5 to 18. Anyone not meeting this requirement who seeks to use an outdated student ID card may be denied access to the public ferry service. Passengers are responsible for ensuring that they are presenting an updated ID card to the ferry contractor.

2 VivienBikulege Individuals seeking a photo ID card for public ferry services to Daufuskie Island should apply to Beaufort County at 843-255-6055 or [email protected]. Once eligibility has been determined, approval will be given to schedule an appointment with Palmetto Breeze 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 exclusive of the County’s program can be purchased online at www.daufuskieislandferry.com.

Effective March 19, 2018, Palmetto Breeze Transit in conjunction with Daufuskie Island Ferry Services will implement an electronic ticket system for the County's ferry services program to Daufuskie Island. The system involves Palmetto Breeze placing a QR code on ID cards for scanning. Additional information is available on the Palmetto Breeze Transit website here. Passengers with questions should call Palmetto Breeze Transit at 843-757-5782 and press option 1.

Important Reminders:  Individuals should only purchase tickets for the level reflected on their ID card.  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.

Peggy Peggy Copley 3 Parking

The County offers 60 complimentary remote parking spaces to accommodate passenger vehicles of full-time residents on Daufuskie Island only at the County’s Bluffton Government Center. The Ferry Contractor manages the assignment of these spaces, based upon determination by the County, 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).

 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.  Full-time renters should receive spaces only after full-time property owners interested in obtaining a space have received an opportunity to get one.  One space per household should be allocated and if additional spaces are available, a second space may be provided, with no one household having more than two spaces at this location.  Full-time renters should have an opportunity to secure one space before any full-time property owner receives two spaces.  Vehicles parked in this location are subject to inspection by the County.  Vehicles without a current decal may be towed at the owner’s expense.  The County nor Ferry Contractor assumes no liability for the condition, security, or contents of the vehicles parked at this location.

Parking spaces may be requested by contacting the ferry contractor, which will review spaces and requests on a month-to-month basis, to allow all full-time residents an opportunity to secure a space without any residents maintaining a monopoly. The County makes final determinations regarding parking at the Bluffton Government Center.

The Ferry Contractor also administers waterfront parking at Buckingham Landing for island residents and property owners with a goal of providing accessible and affordable parking for all residents. Parking spaces may be requested by calling 843-940-7704. Due to high demand and limited availability, parking spaces at the embarkation location are carefully managed. Spaces are reviewed on a month-to-month basis to permit all Daufuskie Island full-time residents an opportunity to secure a space. Responsibility for final determinations regarding parking eligibility at Buckingham

Landing rests with the Ferry Contractor.

4 VivienBikulege 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.

NickCole 5           Items: Cargo/Freight Prohibited    by the Ferry Contractor. necessary determined or as cargo freight with any associated reflect costs not do prices Ticket Cargo andFreight    6

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www.daufuskieislandferry.com

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Joan Eckhardt 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

05.08.18