The Steamship Authority is getting closer to final designs for a new Woods Hole ferry terminal and a new ferry.

At their monthly board meeting Tuesday in Woods Hole, Steamship Authority governors received an update about plans for the redesign of the Woods Hole terminal, a project that has sparked concerns from Woods Hole residents and revived the discussion about shipping freight between New Bedford and Martha’s Vineyard.

In a meeting summary, Steamship Authority general manager Wayne C. Lamson said architecture firm Bertaux + Iwerks evaluated variations of a single level or a split level terminal building. The staff thinks variations of a split-level terminal building is the best alternative, the summary said, and at the request of a Woods Hole community working group, they have asked the architecture firm to move the terminal building further to the south and turn it 90 degrees to provide a better view of the water.

Mr. Lamson said the new designs should be ready and presented to the community group in about three weeks, and ideally a preferred option will be presented at next month’s board of governors meeting.

Another major project is also moving along, with plans for a new passenger freight ferry well underway. Elliot Bay Design Group, a Seattle firm that is designing the new ferry, has a preliminary design for the vessel, Mr. Lamson said, and the design is still expected to be done and reviewed by the Coast Guard in October 2014. Preliminary construction cost estimates are between $41.2 and $47.1 million.

At February’s board meeting, the board of governors decided in favor of a vessel with a 384-person capacity. The new ferry is scheduled to be in service by May 2016 and it will replace the freight ferry Governor.