Transportation Planning
Title VI, Civil Rights
Participation in the decision-making process for determining transporation projects and funding is open to all citizens.
Project Overview
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (49 CFR, Part 21) states that “no person in the United States shall on the grounds of race, color, or national origin be excluded from the participation in, or be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal Financial assistance.”
The Franklin Transportation Planning Organization (FCTPO) and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) has long been committed to having an open, inclusive public participation process, and to ensuring that its transportation planning and program activities, including those related to transit services, are non-discriminatory. The FCTPO works to ensure that all populations, including minorities and low-income residents, are able to participate fully in regional transportation planning processes, and to have quality access to transportation facilities and services.
Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against should contact:
Franklin County Transportation Planning Organization
Attention: Transportation and Land Use Planner
Franklin Regional Council of Governments
425 Main Street, Suite 20
Greenfield, MA 01301
Title VI Notice to the Public
The Franklin County Transportation Planning Organization fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. The Franklin County Transportation Planning Organization operates without regard to race, color, or national origin. Any person who believes him/herself or any specific class of persons, to be subjected to discrimination prohibited by Title VI may by him/herself or by representative file a written complaint with the Franklin County Transportation Planning Organization. A complaint must be filed no later than 180 days after the date of the alleged discrimination.
Franklin County Transportation Planning Organization meetings are conducted in accessible locations, and materials can be provided in accessible formats and in languages other than English. If you would like accessibility or language accommodation, please contact the Franklin County Transportation Planning Organization at 413-774-1194 (voice), 413-774-3169 (fax), or trans@frcog.org (e-mail).
Current Activities
The FCTPO is required to provide an annual Title VI certification and assurance. To ensure accordance with 49 CFR Section 21.7, every application for financial assistance must be accompanied by an assurance that the applicant will carry out the program in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This requirement is fulfilled when the applicant submits its annual certifications and assurances. The FCTPO complies with this requirement annually.
The FCTPO is also required to record Title VI investigations, complaints, and lawsuits. Funding recipients are required to prepare and maintain a list of any active investigations naming the recipient that allege discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. This list shall include the date of the complaint, a summary of the allegations, the status of the complaint, and actions taken in response to the complaint. The FRCOG Title VI Complaint Coordinator (Transportation and Land Use Planner) maintains these files. Neither the FCTPO nor the FRCOG has had any Title VI complaints that have occurred over the past three years.
Future Plans
The FRCOG will be working to create Language Implementation Plan for Franklin County residents with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
Links
MassDOT Office of Civil Rights (http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/civilrights.aspx)
Federal Transit Administration (http://www.fta.dot.gov/civil_rights_5088.html)
This page was last updated on 04/30/2012 .