Title VI / Nondiscrimination Program Policy

As a major provider of public transportation whose employees have extensive daily contact with the public, Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) recognizes its responsibility to the community which it serves and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination.

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 ECAT, 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 ECAT 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 ECAT’s commitment to this program has been delegated to the Title VI, DBE Coordinator who 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 ECAT’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 ECAT 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 Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) transit service, you may file an official Title VI complaint with the Title VI, DBE Coordinator, at 1515 W. Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, FL 32501 or by calling (850)595-3228. We encourage you to make your complaint in writing (see attached Title VI Complaint 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 Title VI, DBE Coordinator will review every complaint, and when necessary, begin the investigation process. At a minimum the investigation 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 Title VI, DBE Coordinator will complete a final report for the General Manager. 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 transit.dot.gov.

Complainants may also file their initial Title VI complaint 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 transit.dot.gov.

For more information through ECAT contact the Title VI, DBE Coordinator

By phone: 850-595-3228
or mail: ECAT, 1515 W. Fairfield Drive Pensacola, Florida 32501
or fax: 850-595-3222

Title VI Complaint Form