Title VI Compliance Statement
The Centre Area Transportation Authority is in compliance with Section 601 of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Any person who is, or seeks to be, a patron of any public vehicle which is operated as a part of, or in conjunction with, a project shall be given the same access, seating, and other treatment with regard to the use of such vehicle as other persons without regard to their race, color, or national origin.
No person or group of persons shall be discriminated against with regard to the routing, scheduling, or quality of transportation service furnished as a part of the project on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Frequency of service, age and quality of vehicles assigned to routes, quality of stations serving different routes, and location of routes may not be determined on the basis of race, color, or national origin.
Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against, or any person who requires further information regarding CATA’s Title VI obligations or compliance, should contact CATA’s Director of Human Resources and Compliance at 238-2282, extension 5127.
NON-DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT PROCESS
- Any recipient who believes that she or he, individually or as a member of a group, has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, or national origin regarding participation in or receipt of CATA services, may file a complaint with the Director of Human Resources and Compliance, Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA), 2081 West Whitehall Road, State College, PA 16801.
All complaints must meet the following requirements:
- The complaint must be in writing, and include the date signed and the name, address, and signature of the complainant. A phone number and e-mail address may be included, but are not required.
- The complaint must include, at a minimum, a detailed description of the alleged discrimination, what happened, and the date on which it occurred. Any other information, such as bus number, time of day, names, and job titles of all CATA employees involved should be provided, if available, to assist in the investigation of the complaint.
- The complaint must be filed within 180 calendar days of the alleged act of discrimination.
Complaint process:
- Acceptance or rejection of a complaint: Upon receipt, the Director of Human Resources and Compliance will review the complaint, and determine whether it will be accepted for further investigation, or rejected.
In order for a complaint to be accepted, it must be filed with (received by) CATA’s Director of Human Resources and Compliance within 180 calendar days of the alleged act of discrimination, must allege discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, and must involve a service provided by CATA, either directly or through a subcontractor.
The Director of Human Resources and Compliance will provide a written acknowledgment to the complainant that the complaint has been received, and whether it has been accepted or rejected, in accordance with the above.
- Investigation of a complaint: The Director of Human Resources and Compliance shall investigate accepted complaints and prepare a written report, within 90 calendar days of the acceptance of the complaint, to include a description of the alleged act of discrimination, identification of persons interviewed, findings, and recommendations. The Executive Director and CEO, and, where appropriate, CATA’s legal counsel, shall review the report, and determine whether or not CATA has complied with Title VI requirements, and, if not, what remedial action will be taken.
- Dismissal of a complaint: A complaint may be dismissed without further action if the complainant requests, in writing, that the complaint be withdrawn, or the complainant fails to respond to repeated requests for additional information needed to process and investigate the complaint, or the complainant cannot be located after reasonable attempts to do so.