Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. To that end, PRTC has adopted the policy and complaint process outlined below.

PRTC Title VI Policy

PRTC is committed to a policy of non-discrimination in the conduct of its business, including its Title VI responsibilities – the delivery of equitable and accessible transportation services. PRTC recognizes its responsibilities to the communities in which it operates and to the society it services. It is PRTC’s policy to utilize its best efforts to assure that no person 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 its program of transit service delivery and related benefits.

Toward this end, PRTC embraces the following policy tenets / program:

A. No person or group of persons will be discriminated against with regard to fares, routing, scheduling or quality of transportation services that PRTC furnishes, on the basis of race, color, or national origin.

B. Frequency of service, age and quality of PRTC vehicles assigned to routes and location of routes will not be determined on the basis of race, color, or national origin.

C. The full and fair participation of all affected populations in transportation decision making shall be promoted.

D. Disproportionately high adverse impacts of programs and activities on minority and low income populations shall be identified and addressed as appropriate.

E. Meaningful access to programs and activities by persons with limited English proficiency shall be ensured.

The responsibility for carrying out PRTC’s commitment to this program has been delegated to the PRTC Executive Director by the Commission. Title VI staff is responsible for the day-to-day operations of this Program and will receive and investigate Title VI complaints which come through the complaint process. However, all Directors, managers, supervisors, and employees share in the responsibility for making PRTC’s Program a success.

PRTC Title VI Complaint and Investigation Procedures

These procedures cover all complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 12898 “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations” (1994), and Executive Order 13166 “Improving Access to Services for Person with Limited English Proficiency” (2000), for alleged discrimination in any program or activity administered by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC).

Any individual, group of individuals, or entity that believes they have been subjected to discrimination prohibited under Title VI and the related statutes may file a complaint, completing the attached complaint form to the following address:

Title VI Coordinator
Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation
Commission
14700 Potomac Mills Road
Woodbridge, VA 22192
703-580-6147

The following measures will be taken to resolve Title VI complaints:

1. 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 (link to complaint form), and will include the complainant’s name, address and telephone number; name of alleged discriminating person, basis of complaint (race, color, national origin) and the date of the alleged act(s). A statement detailing the facts and circumstances of the alleged discrimination must accompany each complaint.

2. 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 PRTC Title VI Coordinator. Under these circumstances, the complainant will be interviewed, and the PRTC Title VI Coordinator will assist the Complainant in converting the verbal allegations to writing.

3. When a complaint is received, the Title VI Coordinator will provide written acknowledgement to the Complainant, within ten (10) days by registered mail.

4. If a complaint is deemed incomplete, additional information will be requested, and the Complainant will be provided thirty (30) business days to submit the required information. Failure to do so may be considered good cause for a determination of no investigative merit.

5. Within fifteen (15) business days from receipt of a complete complaint, the PRTC will determine whether the complaint has sufficient merit to warrant investigation as a Title VI complaint and within five (5) days of this decision PRTC will notify the Complainant, by registered mail, that it will either pursue or not a Title VI investigation.
1. If the decision is not to investigate as a Title VI complaint, the notification shall specifically state the reason for the decision.

6. If the complaint has investigative merit a complete investigation will be conducted, and an investigative report will be completed within sixty (60) days from receipt of the complaint. The report will include a narrative description of the incident, summaries of all persons interviewed, a finding with recommendations for remedial steps as appropriate and necessary. The remedial steps, if any, will be implemented as soon as practicable. The Complainant will receive a copy of the final report together with any remedial steps.

7. If no violation is found and the Complainant wishes to appeal the decision, he or she may appeal directly to the Executive Director of PRTC, 14700 Potomac Mills Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192.

8. Complaints may also be filed with the Federal Transit Administrations, Office of Civil Rights, no later than 180 days after the date of the alleged discrimination, at 1760 Market Street, Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19103, phone: (215) 565-7255.

9. The Title VI Coordinator shall maintain a log of Title VI complaints received from this process. The log shall include the date the complaint was filed; a summary of the allegations; the status of the complaint; and actions taken by PRTC in response to the complaint. Should PRTC receive a Title VI complaint in the form of a formal charge or lawsuit, the General Counsel shall be responsible for the investigation and maintaining a log as described above.

Complaint Form - English (PDF)

Formulario de Denuncia - Español (PDF)