Agenda - 03-17-2015 - 7c - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 17, 2015 SUBJECT: 2015 Orange Public Transportation Title VI Plan DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections ATTACHMENT(S): 1. Draft 2015 Title VI Plan 2. Resolution of Adoption 1 Action Agenda Item No. 7 -c PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No INFORMATION CONTACT: Bret Martin, Transportation Planner, 919- 245 -2582 Peter Murphy, Transportation Administrator, 919 - 245 -2002 Craig Benedict, Planning Director, 919- 245 -2592 PURPOSE: To consider adoption by resolution of the draft 2015 Orange Public Transportation Title VI Plan. BACKGROUND: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. Specifically, Title VI provides that "no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance" (42 U.S.C. Section 2000d). The Federal -Aid Highway Act of 1973 added the requirement that there be no discrimination on the grounds of sex, and the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 defined the word "program" to make clear that discrimination is prohibited through an entire agency if any part of the agency receives federal financial assistance. In response to this requirement, public transportation providers making use of federal financial assistance to provide their services are required to develop a Title VI plan /program to guide their administration and management of Title VI- related activities. More particularly, the plan must clarify roles, responsibilities, and procedures established to ensure compliance with Title VI. Orange County transportation planning staff has developed a plan /program that includes the required components for a Title VI plan /program as provided in guidance issued by the Federal Transit Administration (Attachment 1). The plan focuses on Orange Public Transportation programs with significant public contact responsibilities and provides policy direction necessary to ensure compliance with Title VI. Although required for transit provider recipients of federal financial assistance for many years, this is the first Title VI plan /program developed for OPT. The development of this plan /program is a corrective action taken by OPT and NCDOT to meet specific federal guidance requirements for what should be provided and addressed in a Title VI program. The plan /program is necessary for OPT to continue to receive certain federal grants as a sub - recipient through the State, as well as for receiving additional grant sources directly from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) that transportation planning staff is pursuing or has secured.