Bill Overview
Title: To amend title 46, United States Code, to include certain passenger ferries as eligible and qualified vessels under Capital Construction Funds, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill makes certain ferries and passenger vessels eligible and qualified vessels for capital construction funds. U.S. citizens owning or leasing an eligible vessel may make an agreement with the Department of Transportation to establish a capital construction fund for such vessel to provide replacement vessels, additional vessels, or reconstructed vessels built in and documented under the laws of the United States.
Sponsors: Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3]
Target Audience
Population: People using passenger ferries globally
Estimated Size: 1000000
- Ferries and passenger vessels are primarily used for transporting people, including daily commuters, tourists, and local travelers, which involves a substantial number of people in coastal and waterway regions around the world.
- In many countries, ferries are a crucial part of public transportation infrastructure, serving millions annually.
- The bill also indirectly impacts those industries reliant on tourism and travel using ferries, which globally is a significant sector.
- Infrastructure improvements and expansions facilitated by capital construction funds could result in enhanced safety, efficiency, and frequency, benefiting users.
Reasoning
- Ferries and passenger vessels mostly affect people in coastal regions and cities with significant waterway systems.
- The impact is primarily on daily commuters, tourists, and anyone depending on waterways for travel.
- Not everyone in America lives on the coast or near these untapped water transport systems, so the immediate impact would be localized.
- The budget constraints mean only a subset of potential projects can be funded, limiting the reach to specific priority areas with significant ferry usage.
- Industrial workers in shipbuilding and maintenance are also affected indirectly.
- The policy mainly increases public transport efficiency and convenience, leading to potential increases in overall well-being over time.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Faster and more reliable ferry services would make my daily commute less stressful.
- I hope the policies include considerations for lower environmental impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Tour Guide (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved ferry services might attract more tourists which is good for business.
- I'm concerned that if operational costs increase, it might lead to fare hikes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired Teacher (New York, NY)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy makes the ferries easier to board for seniors and those with disabilities.
- More reliable schedules will help in planning visits better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Graduate Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Upgrading ferries to be faster and more tech-friendly would be a win.
- I'm hoping for better Wi-Fi on board to maintain productivity while commuting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Entrepreneur (Miami, FL)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Availability of funds for vessel replacement is encouraging.
- Competition from improved public ferry services may challenge my business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Port Authority Worker (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced ferry systems will create more jobs and make commutes smoother.
- It will be crucial to align new routes with growth areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Environmental Activist (San Diego, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If new ferries are more energy-efficient, that’s a positive move.
- With rising seas and pollution, these changes can't come soon enough.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Hotel Manager (Charleston, SC)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased ferry services could boost tourism, benefiting our hotel.
- I just hope it doesn't disrupt the local ecosystem.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Engineer in Shipbuilding (Houston, TX)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a huge opportunity for shipbuilders like us.
- We need to ensure designs meet future environmental standards.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
College Student (Juneau, AK)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies shouldn't just make ferries more abundant but also affordable for students.
- Dependable ferries will help stay connected with the community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $51000000 (Low: $41000000, High: $61000000)
Year 3: $52000000 (Low: $42000000, High: $62000000)
Year 5: $54000000 (Low: $44000000, High: $64000000)
Year 10: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $70000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The extent to which U.S. shipyards can scale operations to meet potential new demand will affect cost estimates.
- Market conditions for the tourism and transportation sectors post-COVID-19 pandemic might alter projected economic impacts.
- The administrative capacity and costs associated with the Department of Transportation managing additional capital construction fund agreements need careful consideration.