Ocracoke-mainland ferry Pamlico to get elevator

A ferry used on the routes between Ocracoke and the mainland will be getting an elevator to allow limited mobility passengers access to the upstairs lounge.

Renovations to add the elevator to the M/V Pamlico will cost $778,600, with the project slated for spring 2013.

Earlier this month, the N.C. Board of Transportation approved $622,880 through a federally funded program, while $155,720 will come from the NCDOT Ferry Division budget.

Currently, passengers with limited mobility can only access the lower level lounge on the M/V Pamlico during the 2.5-hour trips across Pamlico Sound.

The M/V Pamlico was constructed in 1965 and is scheduled for a Coast Guard-required dry docking in spring 2013 for upgrades.

The Ferry Division’s newest Sound-class vessels, M/V Swan Quarter and M/V Sea Level, were built with elevators and parking spaces designated for vehicles with handicapped and limited mobility occupants.

Most of the funding for the elevator will come from the federal government’s New Freedom Program, which is administered through the NCDOT Public Transportation Division.

The program provides money for services and facility improvements that address the needs of people with disabilities that go beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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