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SPARTA's TITLE VI POLICY STATEMENT
The Spartanburg Area Regional Transit Agency (SPARTA) is committed to ensuring
that no person is excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of its
services on the basis of race, color or national origin, as provided by Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.
Toward this end, it is SPARTA's objective to:
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Ensure that the level and quality of transportation service is provided
without regard to race, color, or national origin;
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Identify and address, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse
human health and environmental effects, including social and economic
effects of programs and activities on minority populations and low-income
populations;
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Promote the full and fair participation of all affected populations in
transportation decision making;
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Prevent the denial, reduction, or delay in benefits related to programs and
activities that benefit minority populations or low-income populations;
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Ensure meaningful access to programs and activities by persons with limited
English proficiency.
These
procedures apply to complaints filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, relating to any program
and/or activity administered by the City of Spartanburg’s Transit Management
of Spartanburg Inc or consultants and/or contractors. Intimidation or
retaliation of any kind is prohibited by law.
These procedures do not deny the right
of the complainant to file formal complaints with other
State or Federal agencies, or to seek
private counsel for complaints alleging discrimination.
These procedures are part of an
administrative process that does not provide for remedies that
include punitive damages or compensatory remuneration for the complainant.
Every effort will be made to obtain
early resolution of complaints at the lowest possible level.
The option of informal mediation
meeting(s) between the affected parties and the investigator
may be utilized for resolution, at any
stage of the process. The City of Spartanburg’s Transit Management of
Spartanburg Inc will make every effort to
pursue a resolution of the complaint.
Initial interviews with the complainant and the respondent will
include requests for information regarding specific relief and settlement
options.
Filing
Any person who believes that he or she or
any specific class of persons has been subjected to
discrimination or retaliation prohibited
by Civil Rights authorities, based upon race, color, sex,
age, national origin, or disability may
file a written complaint to the City of Spartanburg’s Transit Management of
Spartanburg Inc Title VI Program
Coordinator. A formal complaint must be filed within 180 calendar
days of the alleged occurrence or when the alleged discrimination became
known to the complainant. The complaint must meet the following
requirements:
- Complaints must be in writing and signed by the
complainant(s).
- Complaints must include the date of the alleged act(s) of
discrimination (date when the complainant(s) became aware of the alleged
discrimination; or the date on which the conduct was discontinued or the
latest instance of the conduct.
- Complaint must present a detailed description of the issues,
including names, job titles, and addresses of those individuals
perceived as parties in the action complained against.
Receipt and Acceptance
Upon receipt of the complaint, the Title
VI Program Coordinator will determine it jurisdiction and need for
additional information. The complaint will be forwarded to the SCDOT (South
Carolina Department of Transportation) Title VI Coordinator
for a determination of acceptability. The
Title VI Coordinator
will notify the complaint, in
writing, within ten (10) days of receipt of the complaint.
In order to be accepted, a complaint must beet the following criteria:
a.
The complaint must be filed within 180
calendar days of the alleged occurrence or when the alleged
discrimination became known to the complainant.
b.
The allegation(s) must involve a covered
basis such as race, color, or national origin.
c.
The allegation(s) must involve a program or
activity that receives Federal financial
assistance.
SCDOT will assume responsibility for investigating complaints against any of its
sub-recipients.
Investigation of Complaints
In cases where SCDOT
assumes responsibility for investigation, SCDOT will provide the
respondent with the opportunity to respond to
the allegations in writing. SCDOT will
designate an investigative team responsible
for evaluating the complaint, developing an investigative plan,
conducting interviews, collecting and analyzing evidence, and preparing an
investigative report.
SCDOT's final
investigative report will submitted to the appropriate Federal Agency within
60 days
of receipt of the complaint. The appropriate agency will issue a final agency
decision (FAD) and provide written notification of the decision to the
complainant and respondent.
Appeals
If the appropriate
Federal Agency concludes that the respondent is in compliance with
laws/regulations and the complainant
disagrees, the complainant may, if dissatisfied, file an action in the
appropriate U.S. District Court
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