Title VI Notification and Language Assistance Plan

Title VI Notification

MRVT  Transit  operates  its  programs  without  regard  to  race,  color,  and  national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who  believes he or she has been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint with the City of Saint Peter.  For more information on civil rights program, obligations, and complaint  procedures, please contact:  Compliance Manager Sherri Terhurne via Email or at 1-888-880-4696.  You may also fill out the Title VI Complaint Form  and return it to the Compliance Manager.  Or please visit our administrative offices at:  227 S. Front Street  Saint Peter, MN  56082. Persons with limited English proficiency may contact Sherri Terhurne.  A Title VI complaint may also be made by contacting the Title VI Specialist at the  Minnesota Department of Transportation, Office of Civil Rights:    Title VI Specialist, Office of Civil Rights  Minnesota Department of Transportation  395 John Ireland Blvd., Mail Stop 170, St. Paul, Minnesota 55155‐1899  Phone: 651‐366‐3073  Fax:  651‐366‐3129.

Title VI Complaint Procedures and Complaint Form 

Title VI Language Assistance Plan

The Language Assistance Plan for Minnesota River Valley Transit.

Purpose

The purpose of this Language Assistance Plan (hereinafter “plan”) is to meet Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA’s) requirements to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. As a sub recipient of FTA funds, this transit system is pledged to take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to its transit services for persons who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English. The FTA refers to these persons as Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons.

The completion of this plan for persons with Limited English Proficiency conforms to the requirements of the FTA Circular 4702.1B  Title VI Requirements and Guidelines for Federal Transit Administration Recipients.

The U.S. DOT’s FTA Office of Civil Rights’ publication “Implementing the Department of Transportation’s Policy Guidance Concerning Recipients’ Responsibilities to Limited English Proficient Persons - A Handbook for Public Transportation Providers,” dated April 13, 2007, was used in the preparation of this plan.

The plan for Saint Peter Transit contains:

  • A needs assessment based on the four-factor analysis
  • Language assistance measures
  • A staff training plan
  • Methods for notifying LEP persons about available language assistance
  • Methods for monitoring, evaluating and updating the plan

LEP Needs Assessment - the Four-Factor Analysis

Factor 1.  The number or proportion of LEP persons in our service area who may be served or are likely to encounter a transit program, activity, or service.

We assessed the 2012 US Census Data/American Community Survey data about LEP persons to determine the number or proportion of LEP persons who might use or want to use our transit services:

  • 2012 US Census data/American Community Survey data
  • Survey results: 
  • Local school district data
  • Locally Coordinated Human Services Plan
  • Other Human Services data
  • Area/Metropolitan Planning Organizations/Regional Development Commission data
  • Information from local organizations (religious, legal, social service, etc.) about LEP persons in our service area
  • Reports from drivers, dispatchers and others about contact with LEP persons

According to data provided by MN/DOT from the 2012 American Community Survey 2007-2011 Five-Year estimate:

  1. The total number of LEP persons in our service area is 265.
  2. The total eligible population in our service area is 13573.
  3. The proportion of LEP persons to the total eligible service population is 1.95%.

Factor 2.  The frequency with which LEP persons come in contact with our transit programs, activities, or services.

Drivers report that LEP persons who speak primarily Somali and to a lesser degree Spanish frequently use the transit.  The majority of LEP persons are Somali and the most frequent destinations are the Community Center (Adult Education) and Family Fresh Market.

The conclusions drawn from examining this information about LEP persons seeking transit services are completely anecdotal.  There is no information available to show that Saint Peter Transit is not serving the LEP community.  Those wishing to use the service are being served.  We are not aware of LEP persons who do not make attempts to use the transit due to limited English proficiency.

Factor 3. The nature and importance of programs, activities, or services provided to the LEP population.

Our transit system considers transit to be an important and essential service for many people living in our service area.  Many LEP persons use our transit service to travel to ESL and other classes sponsored by Adult Education in the Saint Peter Community Center.  The other most common destination is Family Fresh Market.  Occasionally LEP persons will use the transit for commuting to work.

Factor 4. The resources available to our transit system and the overall cost to provide language assistance.

Our current budget for marketing to or communicating with LEP persons in their language about transit services that are available to them is $200.00.  This may include funding for staff training, translation services, brochures, flyers, posters, newspaper ads, radio ads, website, etc.

Language Assistance Measures

Efforts will be made to meet with our Somali community using an interpreter to provide information to LEP persons on the services provided by Saint Peter Transit.  Since Somali was not a written language until the middle 1970s, translated written materials are ineffective in communicating with the Somali community.

There are several language assistance measures that are available to Saint Peter Transit.   These include:  Check off any items below that are relevant and provide a short narrative to explain your future efforts.

  • Arranging for availability of oral translators
  • Communication with LEP persons’ groups about transit services
  • Posting notices in appropriate languages informing LEP persons of available services
  • Meetings with LEP persons’ groups will include a translator whenever possible.

Staff Training

To ensure effective implementation of this plan, the transit system will schedule training at orientations for new staff and for all relevant employees on an annual basis to review:

  • The transit system’s Language Assistance Plan
  • Demographic data about local LEP population
  • Printed LEP persons’ materials
  • How to handle verbal requests for transit service in a foreign language
  • Responsibility to notify transit manager about any LEP persons’ unmet needs.

Notice to LEP Persons About Available Language Assistance

Our transit system plans to notify LEP persons in their own language about the language assistance available to them without cost by using the following methods:

  • Signs on buses or at bus stops
  • Brochures
  • Posters
  • Sending information to local organizations that work with LEP persons
  • Telephone messages
  • Local ads (newspaper, radio, TV)
  • Website notices
  • Information tables at local events, grocery stores, pharmacies, and churches

Annual Monitoring, Evaluating & Updating Plan

The transit system will review this plan during its annual review with its MN/DOT transit project manager by:

  • Assessing its effectiveness (e.g., comparing numbers of LEP persons served by year, number of requests for language assistance received during the year),
  • Assessing the sufficiency of staff training and budget for language assistance,
  • Reviewing current sources for assistance to ensure continuing availability, and
  • Reviewing any complaints from LEP persons or about their needs that were received during the past year.

This plan will be reviewed by our transit system annually.  Revisions of this plan will be approved by the Saint Peter City Council and dated.

Dissemination of Plan

This Language Assistance Plan is available on our website

This plan is also available at no cost in English upon request by telephone, fax, and mail or in person.

If requested to be provided in another language and it is feasible to have it translated, information will be provided at no cost to the requester.

Contact Information

Questions or comments about this plan may be submitted to:

Sherri Terhurne
Compliance Manager

Address
227 S Front Street
Saint Peter, MN 56082

Phone: 888-880-4696
Fax: 507-934-4917

Email Sherri Terhurne