>  TITLE VI

ADA PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMPLAINT PROCEDURES

Complimentary ADA Paratransit Service is available to any eligible person under the age of 65 that lives within ¾ mile of the boundaries of the CATA fixed route network and cannot use the fixed route due to a physical or mental disability. CATA will make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. Applications for Paratransit Service are available at CATA’s main office or on the ADA page of our website.


 Procedures to File an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Complaint

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity and access for persons with disabilities. Crawford Area Transportation Authority (CATA) is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of its services on the basis of disability.

 

CATA is committed to:

 

  • Ensuring that the level and quality of transportation service is provided without regard to disability;
  • Promoting the full and fair participation of all affected populations in transportation decision making;
  • Preventing the denial, reduction or delay in benefits related to programs and activities that benefit those with a disability; and
  • Ensuring meaningful access to programs and activities by persons with disabilities.

 

Management and all employees share the responsibility for carrying out CATA’s commitment to the provisions of the ADA. The CATA Compliance Officer is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the program and receives and investigates ADA complaints that come through the complaint process.

 

Any person who believes that he or she has been subjected to discrimination under the ADA on the basis of their disability may file an ADA complaint with CATA within 180 days from the date of the alleged discrimination.

 

The ADA complaint form may be mailed to:


CATA

Attn: ADA Compliance Officer

214 Pine Street

Meadville, PA 16335

 

Or sent via email to: compliance@catabus.org


A copy of the ADA Complaint Form may also be obtained at www.catabus.org or by calling the CATA Office at 814-336-5600. CATA will provide appropriate assistance to complainants who are limited in their ability to communicate in English.

For additional information on CATA’s nondiscrimination obligations, please contact the CATA Compliance Officer at 8144-336-5600.


 What happens to my complaint when CATA receives it?

Once a complaint is received, it will be reviewed by the CATA Compliance Officer. In instances where additional information is needed, you will be contacted by phone or in writing. Failure of the complainant to provide the requested information by a defined date may result in the administrative closure of the complaint or a delay in complaint resolution.

 

Based upon receipt of all the information required, CATA will investigate an ADA complaint within 30 days of receipt. CATA will use its best efforts to respond to a complaint within 60 days of receipt. Receipt of additional relevant information and/or simultaneous filing of complaint with CATA and an external entity may expand the timing of the complaint resolution.

 

The Compliance Officer will review and investigate every complaint promptly. Reasonable measures will be taken to preserve any information that is confidential. At a minimum the Compliance Officer will:

 

  • Identify and review all relevant documents, practices and procedures;
  • Identify and interview persons with knowledge of the ADA violation, e.g., 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 Compliance Officer will complete a final report for CATA Executive Director. If a violation is found to exist, remedial steps as appropriate and necessary will be taken immediately. The complainant will also receive a final report including any remedial steps. The investigation process and final report should take no longer than 120 business days. If no violation is found and the complainant wishes to appeal the decision, he or she may appeal directly to:

 

CATA

Attn: Executive Director

214 Pine Street

Meadville, PA 16335

 

The Compliance Officer shall maintain a log of ADA complaints received, including date the complaint was filed, a summary of the allegations, the status of the complaint and actions taken by CATA in response to the complaint.

 

Complaints may also be filed with the Federal Transportation Administration’s Office of Civil Rights, no later than 180 days after the date of alleged discrimination:

 

Federal Transit Administration

Office of Civil Rights

Attention: Complaint Team

East Building, 5th Floor – TCR

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

 

This document is available in accessible formats (large print, audio tape and TDD) upon request. To obtain information regarding these accessible formats, please contact the ADA Compliance Officer at 814-336-5600 or 1-855-338-5600.


 


Title VI Policy and Complaint Process


The Crawford Area Transportation Authority (CATA) grants equal access to its programs and services to all citizens. This document serves to make citizens aware of their rights to such access, and serves to educate citizens so that they may understand the civil rights laws that protect their receipt and benefit of such services as defined by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.


 

WHAT IS TITLE VI? Title VI is a section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requiring that “No person in the United States shall on the grounds 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.” Note that Title VI does not address gender discrimination. It only covers race, color and national origin. Other Civil Rights laws prohibit gender discrimination.


 


CATA’s TITLE VI COMPLAINT AND INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES


These procedures cover all complaints filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for alleged discrimination in any program or activity administered by the Crawford Area Transportation Authority. 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. Every effort will be made to obtain early resolution of complaints at the lowest level possible. The option of informal mediation meeting(s) between the affected parties and CATA may be utilized for resolution. Any individual, group of individuals or entity that believes they have been subjected to discrimination prohibited under Title VI and related statutes may file separate complaints.



A formal complaint must be filed within 180 days of the alleged occurrence. Complaints shall be in writing and signed by the individual or his/her representative, and will include the complainant’s name, address and telephone number; name of alleged discriminating official, basis of complaint (race, color, national origin), and the date of alleged act(s). A statement detailing the facts and circumstances of the alleged discrimination must accompany all complaints. A CATA Title VI complaint form can be obtained from the CATA office or by clicking here . CATA encourages individuals to submit Title VI complaints in writing using this form and mailing it to:


Office of Human Resources, Title VI Coordinator

Crawford Area Transportation Authority

214 Pine St

Meadville, PA 16335


 

  1. In the case where a complainant is unable or incapable of providing a written statement, a verbal complaint of discrimination may be made to the CATA Office of Human Resources Title VI Coordinator. Under these circumstances, the complainant will be interviewed, and the CATA Office of Human Resources Title VI Coordinator will assist the complainant in completing a written statement.
  2. When a complaint is received, the Office of Human Resources Title VI Coordinator will provide written acknowledgment to the Complainant, within ten (10) business days by registered mail or hand delivery.
  3. If a complaint is deemed incomplete, additional information will be requested, and the Complainant will be provided 60 business days to submit the required information. Failure to do so may be considered good cause for a determination of no investigative merit.
  4. Within 15 business days from receipt of a complete complaint, CATA will determine its jurisdiction in pursuing the matter and whether the complaint has sufficient merit to warrant investigation. Within five (5) days of this decision, the Executive Director or his/her authorized designee will notify the Complainant and Respondent, by registered mail or hand delivery informing them of the disposition.
  5. If the decision is not to investigate the complaint, the notification shall specifically state the reason for the decision.
  6. If the complaint is to be investigated, the notification shall state the grounds of CATA’s jurisdiction, while informing the parties that their full cooperation will be required in gathering additional information and assisting the investigator.
  7. When CATA does not have sufficient jurisdiction, the Executive Director or his/her authorized designee will refer the complaint to the appropriate State or Federal agency holding such jurisdiction.

 



If the complaint has investigative merit, the Executive Director or his/her authorized designee will instruct the Title VI Coordinator to fully investigate the complaint. A complete investigation will be conducted, and an investigative report will be submitted to the Executive Director within 60 days from receipt of the complaint. The report will include a description of the incident, summaries of all persons interviewed, and a finding with recommendations and proposed resolution where appropriate. If the investigation is delayed for any reason, the Office of Human Resource Title VI Coordinator will notify the appropriate authorities, and an extension will be requested.

  1. The Executive Director or his/her authorized designee will issue letters of finding to the complainant and Respondent within 90 days from receipt of the complaint.
  2. If the Complainant is dissatisfied with CATA’s resolution of the complaint, he/she has the right to file a complaint in the time allotted by law with:

 

Federal Transit Administration Region 3

1760 Market Street Suite 500

Philadelphia, PA 19103-4124

(215) 656-7100 (telephone)

(215) 656-7260 (fax)




POSTING OF PUBLIC NOTICE


Public notice of Title VI Policy and Complaint Procedures is posted in each vehicle and at the CATA Administrative Offices, 214 Pine Street, Meadville, PA 16335.