As a major provider of public transportation whose employees have extensive daily contact with the public, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) recognizes its responsibility to the community which it serves and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination. JTA works to ensure nondiscriminatory transportation in support of our mission to be the Northeast Florida leader in providing effective, coordinated and integrated multimodal transportation solutions to enhance the social and economic quality of life for all Jacksonville citizens.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance. Specifically, Title VI provides that "no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." (42 U.S.C. Section 2000d). The Environmental Justice component of Title VI guarantees fair treatment for all people and provides for JTA, to identify and address, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority and low-income populations, such as undertaking reasonable steps to ensure that Limited English Proficiency (LEP) persons have meaningful access to the programs, services, and information the JTA provides.
Environmental Justice regulations are:
(a) To avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects, including social and economic effects, on minority populations and low-income populations;
(b) To ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the transportation decision-making process;
(c) To prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority and low-income populations.
The responsibility for carrying out JTA’s commitment to this program has been delegated to the JTA’s Executive Director/CEO by the Board of Directors. The Contract Compliance & Civil Rights Program Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of this Program and will receive and investigate Title VI complaints which come through the complaint procedure. However, all managers, supervisors and employees share in the responsibility for making JTA’s Title VI Program a success. Implementation of the Title VI Program is accorded the same priority as compliance with all other legal obligations incurred by the JTA in its financial assistance agreements with DOT.
TITLE VI COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
If you believe that you have been excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination based on race, color or national origin under the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) program of transit service delivery or related services or programs, you may file an official Title IV complaint with the Contract Compliance & Civil Rights Program Manager, Ken Middleton, 100 N. Myrtle Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32204 or by calling (904) 598-8728. We encourage you to make your complaint in writing (see attached Title VI Compliant Form), including the following: Your name, address and how to contact you (phone number, email address, etc.)
- How, why, when and where you believe you were discriminated against. Include the location, names and contact information of any witnesses. If the alleged incident occurred on the bus, give date, time of day, and bus number if available.
- You must sign your letter of complaint
All complaints will be investigated promptly. Reasonable measures will be undertaken to preserve any information that is confidential. The Contract Compliance & Civil Rights Program Manager will review every complaint, and when necessary, begin the investigation process. At a minimum the investigating will:
- Identify and review all relevant documents, practices and procedures;
- Identify and interview persons with knowledge of the Title VI violation, i.e., the person making the complaint; witnesses or anyone identified by the Complainant; anyone who may have been subject to similar activity, or anyone with relevant information.
Upon completion of the investigation, the Contract Compliance & Civil Rights Program Manager will complete a final report for the Executive Director/CEO. If a Title VI violation is found to exist, remedial steps as appropriate and necessary will be taken immediately. The Complainant will also receive a final report together with any remedial steps. The investigation process and final report should take no longer than twenty-five (25) business days. If no violation is found and the complainant wishes to appeal the decision, he or she may contact the Federal Transit Administration, 230 Peachtree St., N.W., Suite 800, Atlanta, GA 30303 Attn: Region IV Civil Rights Officer or by calling (404) 865-5620, web site http://www.fta.dot.gov/civilrights/title6/civil_rights_5104.html.
Complainants may also file their initial Title VI compliant directly, no later than 180 days after the date of the alleged discrimination, and he or she may contact the Federal Transit Administration, 230 Peachtree St., N.W., Suite 800, Atlanta, GA 30303 Attn: Region IV Civil Rights Officer or by calling (404) 865-5620, web site http://www.fta.dot.gov/civilrights/title6/civil_rights_5104.html.
For more information through JTA contact Ken Middleton, Civil Rights Program Manager
by phone: 904-598-8728
or mail: JTA, 100 N. Myrtle Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32204
or fax: 904-630-3166.
JTA Title VI Complaint Form
JTA Title VI Policy Statement
Filing a Title VI Complaint with the FTA