Nondiscrimination policy

Adopted: November 16, 2010
Revised: October 28, 2013 

Regional Public Transportation, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the “Recipient” assures that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or retaliation as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 (Public Law 100.259), and subsequent related acts, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity. The Recipient further assures every effort will be made to ensure non-discrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether those programs and activities are federally funded or not.

 The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, broadened the scope of Title VI coverage by expanding the definition of terms “programs or activities” to include all programs or activities of Federal Aid recipients, sub-recipients, and contractors/consultants, whether such programs and activities are federally assisted or not (Public Law 100. 259 (S.557) March 22, 1988). 

In the event the Recipient distributes federal funds to a sub-recipient, the Recipient will include Title VI language in all written agreements and will monitor for compliance. 

The Recipient’s Title VI Coordinator is responsible for initiating and monitoring Title VI activities, preparing reports and other responsibilities as required by 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 200 and 49 CFR 21.

Any person who believes that he or she, individually, as a member of any specific class, or in connection with any disadvantaged business enterprise, has been subjected to discrimination prohibited by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 19990, Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, as amended, may file a complaint with Regional Public Transportation, Inc. The Complaint Procedure is described below.

Regional Public Transportation, Inc. 
PO BOX 3854 
1006 Railroad Street 
Moscow, Idaho 83843 

Smarttransit.org
208-883-7165 

Meeting accommodations 

If any person requires reasonable accommodation for any open meeting held by Regional Public Transportation, Inc. under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please request at least 5 business days in advance by telephone and 208-883-7747, TTY: 711, or email: smart@smarttransit.org. Documents may be available in another language upon request. (April 9, 2012) 

Language assistance 

A person who does not speak English as their primary language and who has a limited ability to read, write, speak or understand English, may be a Limited English Proficient person and may be entitled to language assistance with respect to Regional Public Transportation, Inc. Services. Language assistance can include interpretation, with means oral or spoken transfer of a message from one language into another language and/or translation, which means the written transfer of a message from one language into another language. 

Regional Public Transportation, Inc. has a Limited English Proficiency Plan in place which describes the efforts taken to overcome language barriers and is available upon request. 

Regional Public Transportation, Inc will take reasonable steps to provide the opportunity for meaningful access to LEP clients who have difficulty communicating in English. There are available resources that could be used for providing assistance, translating documents, and interpreting if needed. 

Language determination 

US Census Bureau “I Speak” Flashcards can be used to determine language. Information is available at lep.gov. 

Language, cultural and translation assistance 

Language assistance may be available through local resources, including the International Programs Office at the University of Idaho, within a reasonable time period. This department serves international students, faculty and visiting scholars at the University of Idaho, as well as the Moscow community. They assist with language translation and community resources. Contact information is: University of Idaho International Programs Office, 208-885-8984, ipo@uidaho.edu (Contact updated April 12, 2022) 

Written translation assistance 

A simple, free resource on the web that translates any written material is available at: translate.google.com.

Interpreting assistance 

Other language translation and interpretation, if needed, would be provided through a telephone interpreter line for which Regional Public Transportation, Inc. Would pay a fee. One such service is: World Interpreting, Inc., info@worldinterpreting.com, worldinterpreting.com, 800-969-6853. 

Title VI discrimination complaint procedure

(November 16, 2010. Revised October 28, 2013) 

Complaints may be filed by any person who believes that he or she has been excluded from participation in, been denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under any Regional Public Transportation, Inc. service, program or activity, and believes the discrimination is based upon race, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, economic status or limited English proficiency. This includes discrimination prohibited by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, as amended. 

A complaint may also be filed by a representative on behalf of such a person. All complaints will be referred to the Regional Public Transportation, Inc.’s Title VI Coordinator for review and action. 

A signed written complaint must be submitted within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory act (or latest occurrence). The Title VI Coordinator or his/her designee may extend the time for filing or waive the time limit in the interest of justice, specifying in writing the reason for doing so. Individuals may also file complaints directly with the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and/or the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) within the 180-day timeframe. The complaint should contain: 

  • Name, address, telephone number and signature of the complainant or the complainant’s representative; 
  • Facts and circumstances surrounding the claimed discrimination, including date of allegations, and basis of the complaint (i.e., race, color, national origin, gender, age, disability); 
  • Any names of persons, if known, that the investigator could contact for additional information to support or clarify the allegations; 
  • Corrective action being sought by the complainant. 

In the event that a person makes a verbal complaint of discrimination to an officer or employee of Regional Public Transportation, Inc., the person shall be interviewed by the Title VI Coordinator. If necessary, the Title VI Coordinator will assist the person in reducing the complaint to writing and submit the written version of the complaint to the person for signature. The complaint shall then be handled according to the Sponsor’s investigative procedures as outlined below. 

Within 10 days of receiving a written complaint, the Title VI Coordinator will acknowledge receipt of the allegation, inform the complainant of action taken or proposed action to process the allegation and advise the complainant of other avenues of redress available, such as to ITD and/or the USDOT. The complaint may be forwarded to ITD or USDOT for investigation. 

Regional Public Transportation, Inc., will advise ITD within 10 days of the receipt of the allegations. Generally, the following information will be included in every notification to ITD: 

  1. Name, address and phone number of the complainant; 
  2. Name(s) and address(es) of alleged discriminating officer(s) or employee(s); 
  3. A statement and basis of the complaint (I.e.; race, color, national origin or sex); 
  4. Date of alleged discriminatory act(s);
  5. Date of complaint received by Regional Public Transportation, Inc.; 
  6. Other agencies (state, local or federal) where the complaint has been filed; 
  7. An explanation of the action Regional Public Transportation, Inc. Has taken or proposed to resolve the issue raised in the complaint. 

Within 60 days, REPT’s Title VI Coordinator will investigate and make recommendations for resolving the complaint in a report of findings to REPT’s authorized representative. The complaint should be resolved by informal means whenever possible. Such informal attempts and their results will be summarized in the report of findings. 

Within 90 days of receipt of the complaint, REEPT’s authorized representative will notify the complainant in writing of the final decision reached, including the proposed disposition of the matter. The notification will advise the complainant of his/her appeal rights with ITD, or USDOT, if they are dissatisfied with the final decision rendered by REPT. The Title VI Coordinator will also provide ITD with a copy of the decision and summary of findings. 

Contacts for the different Title VI administrative jurisdictions are as follows: 

Regional Public Transportation, Inc. Title VI Coordinator 

PO Box 3854 
Moscow, ID 83843 
208-883-7165

Idaho Transportation Department Equal Employment Opportunity Office — External Programs 

PO Box 7149 
Boise ID 83707-1129 

Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil Rights

Attention: Title VI Program Coordinator 
East Building, 5th Floor – TCR 
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 
Washington, DC 20590