What We Do

What Is Transit Civil Rights?

In the provision of transit services and in the creation of the best mobility transportation options for all people, transit providers have a responsibility to ensure that the provision of transportation services are equitable and accessible for people with disabilities, people of color, and low income populations. The concepts of equality and accessibility also apply to transportation providers when they contract to small minority and women owned businesses and internally, when they hire women and minorities. Federal laws and regulations enforce equality and accessibility of services, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Environmental Justice, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation in Department of Transportation (DOT) funded projects and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO).

 

Wading through federal bureaucratic regulations can be tough. Transportation providers face three challenges: 1) Becoming familiar with regulations as useful sources of guidance; 2) Understanding their specific technical guidance; and 3) Applying that guidance to “on the street” situations.

Dr. Cleveland is an expert in taking complicated federal regulations, circulars and guidelines and applying them to unique and challenging situations that transportation providers face every day “on the street”. John has an inventory of 25 different training courses that he teaches to transit providers around the country. Here are some of the program areas where John’s assistance can be invaluable:

 

ADA:

    • ADA Sensitivity Training
    • ADA Paratransit Eligibility
    • ADA Paratransit and Fixed Route Compliance
    • ADA Complimentary Paratransit Service
    • Comprehensive ADA Policy Development
    • Bus Stop Accessibility and Amenities
    • Accessibility Guidelines for Transit Vehicles
    • Improving Customer Service and Sensitivity Skills for People With Disabilities
    • Reservations, Scheduling and Dispatching Best Practices
    • Wheelchair Securement Best Practices
    • Rural Paratransit Transportation
    • Development of ADA Transition Plans
    • Expert Witness Services
 

Title VI and Environmental Justice:

    • Develop System-Wide Standards and Policies for Fixed Route Service
    • Transit Equity Analyses on Proposed Service and Fare Changes
    • Development of FTA Required Triennial Title VI Program Plans
    • Development of DOT Required Language Assistance Plans to Address the Needs of LEP Populations
    • Development of Public Participation Plans for Minority and Low-Income Populations
    • Conducting Environmental Justice Analyses to Determine Disproportionately High and Adverse Effects on Minority and Low Income Populations
 

DBE:

    • Development of DOT Required DBE Program Plans
    • Development of DBE Overall Three Year and Contract Goals
    • DBE Reporting Requirements
    • DBE Certification
 

EEO:

    • Development of FTA Required (every four years) EEO Program Plans
    • Monitoring and Analysis of Progress Toward Utilization Goals for Minorities and Women
 

Transit Operations:

    • Effective Transit Board Management and Community Advocacy
    • Creating Effective Bus Policies
    • Effective Demand Response Transit Service Standards