Title VI Non-Discrimination

The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) responsible for administering the federally mandated metropolitan transportation planning process for the Peoria-Pekin Urbanized Area. As the MPO, TCRPC receives federal funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires 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.” 

All programs that receive funding from the FHWA and FTA are required to follow the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Title VI regulation of 49 CFR Part 21. As a recipient of USDOT financial assistance, the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC) is required to prepare a Title VI Program as stipulated in the FTA Circular 4702.1B. The objectives of Circular 4702.1B are to provide FTA recipients with the direction, guidance, and procedures to 1) Ensure that the level and quality of the transportation planning process is provided in a nondiscriminatory manner; 2) Promote full and fair participation in transportation decision-making without regard to race, color, or national origin; and 3) Warrant meaningful access to transportation planning-related programs and activities by persons with limited English proficiency. 

Any person who believes they have been discriminated against based on race, color, or national origin by TCRPC/PPUATS may file a Title VI complaint by completing and submitting the agency’s Title VI Complaint Form. TCRPC investigates complaints received no more than 180 days after the alleged incident. TCRPC will process complaints that are complete. TCRPC may extend the time for filing or waive the time limit in the interest of justice, specifying in writing the reason for so doing.

How to file a Complaint

A person with a Title VI or other complaint may submit the complaint to TCRPC using the following procedures:

  1. A complaint may be submitted in writing and must include the name and contact information of the person filing the complaint (complainant), the date of the incident, the circumstances surrounding the claimed discrimination, and the identity of the person, department, or service that caused the complaint. Written complaints shall be signed by the complainant and/or the complainant’s representative. Complaints may be sent via mail, email, or hand-delivered. The Complaint Form can be found here.
  2. A complaint may be taken verbally and must include the person’s name and contact information, the date of the incident, the circumstances surrounding the claimed discrimination, and the identity of the person, department, or service that caused the complaint. If a person makes a verbal complaint of discrimination to an officer or employee of TCRPC, the complainant may be interviewed by the Executive Director. If necessary, the Executive Director or their designee will assist the complainant in reducing the complaint to writing and submit the written version of the complaint to the complainant for signature.
  3. A complainant may request a neutral third party to hear a verbal complaint or assist with a written complaint. The selection of the neutral third party shall be made cooperatively between TCRPC and the complainant.
  4. All complaints shall be addressed to the TCRPC Executive Director.

Complaint Procedure

  1. Within 10 days, the Executive Director will:
    1. Acknowledge receipt of the allegation,
    2. Inform the complainant of action taken or proposed action to process the allegation, and
    3. Inform the complainant that the complaint may be either filed directly with TCRPC or with other appropriate departments such as the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The contact information for those agencies will be provided should the person opt to file directly with them. TCRPC’s Executive Director shall be responsible for follow-up and monitoring FTA action.
  2. If the complainant opts to file the complaint with TCRPC, the Executive Director will direct the complaint to the appropriate Program Manager for a fact-finding review.
  3. Within 60 days, the Program Manager will investigate the allegation and, based on the information obtained, will render a recommendation for action in a report of findings to TCRPC’s Executive Director and Personnel Committee. The complaint should be resolved by informal means whenever possible. Such informal attempts and their results will be summarized in the report of findings.
  4. If the complaint is valid and supported by facts, the Executive Director and Personnel Committee will order corrective action to be taken. The Executive Director will also provide the appropriate federal agency with a copy of this decision and a summary of findings upon completion of the investigation.
  5. Within 90 days of receipt of the complaint, TCRPC will notify the complainant in writing of the final decision reached. If the proposed remedy is acceptable to the complainant, the matter is concluded.
  6. If the proposed remedy is not acceptable, TCRPC will advise the complainant on how to file the complaint with the FTA. To file a Title VI complaint or to request additional information about TCRPC’s non-discrimination obligations and policies, contact:
    1. Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, Attention: Executive Director, 456 Fulton Street, Suite 401, Peoria, Illinois 61602
    2. Federal Transit Administration, Office of Civil Rights, Attention Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th floor – TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, D.C., 20590 

Title VI Resources

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