Public Notice Regarding Title VI Compliance

As a recipient of federal funds from the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) complies with the Regulations relative to nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of Transportation, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 21, as they may be amended from time to time (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations). CMAP is committed to: 

1. Ensure that the level and quality of transportation service is provided without regard to race, color, or national origin; 
2. Identify and address, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects, including social and economic effects of programs and activities on minority populations and low-income populations; 
3. Promote the full and fair participation of all affected populations in transportation decision making; 
4. Prevent the denial, reduction, or delay in benefits related to programs and activities that benefit minority populations or low-income populations; 
5. Ensure meaningful access to programs and activities by persons with limited English proficiency.

If any person believes that CMAP has not followed this commitment, contact with the CMAP Civil Rights Officer can be made at 312-454-0400 or a complaint may be filed with the FTA.

RIGHT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. Any person who believes himself or any specific class of persons to be subjected to discrimination prohibited by Title VI may by himself or by a representative file a written complaint with the FTA. A complaint must be filed no later than 180 days after the date of the alleged discrimination, unless the time for filing is extended by FTA.

COMPLAINT ACCEPTANCE. Once a complaint has been accepted by FTA for investigation, FTA will notify the recipient or subrecipient that it has been subject to a Title VI complaint and ask the agency to respond in writing to the complainant's allegations. Once the complainant agrees to release the complaint to the recipient or subrecipient, FTA will provide the agency with the complaint. If the complainant does not agree to release the complaint to the recipient or subrecipient, FTA may choose to close the complaint. FTA strives to complete a Title VI complaint investigation within 180 days of the date that FTA accepts the complaint for investigation.

INVESTIGATIONS. FTA will make a prompt investigation whenever a compliance review, report, complaint or any other information indicates a possible failure to comply with this part. The investigation will include, where appropriate, a review of the pertinent practices and policies of the recipient, the circumstances under which the possible noncompliance with this part occurred, and other factors relevant to a determination as to whether the recipient has failed to comply with Title VI.

LETTERS OF FINDING AND RESOLUTION. After the investigation has been completed FTA's Office of Civil Rights will transmit to the complainant and the grantee one of the following three letters based on its findings:

a. A letter of resolution that explains the steps the recipient or subrecipient has taken or promises to take to come into compliance with Title VI.

b. A letter of finding that is issued when the recipient or subrecipient is not found to be in noncompliance with Title VI. This letter will include an explanation of why the recipient or subrecipient was not found to be in noncompliance, and provide notification of the complainant's appeal rights. If applicable, the letter can include a list of procedural violations or concerns, which can put the recipient or subrecipient on notice that certain practices are questionable and that without corrective steps, a future violation finding is possible.

c. A letter of finding that is issued when the recipient or subrecipient is found to be in noncompliance. This letter will include each violation referenced as to the applicable regulations, a brief description of proposed remedies, notice of the time limit on the conciliation process, the consequences of failure to achieve voluntary compliance and an offer of assistance to the recipient or subrecipient in devising a remedial plan for compliance, if appropriate.

APPEALS PROCESS. The letters of finding and resolution will offer the complainant and the recipient or subrecipient the opportunity to provide additional information that would lead FTA to reconsider its conclusions. In general, FTA requests that the parties in the complaint provide this additional information within 60 days of the date the FTA letter of finding was transmitted. After reviewing this information, FTA's Office of Civil Rights will respond either by issuing a revised letter of resolution or finding to the appealing party, or by informing the appealing party that the original letter of resolution or finding remains in force. FTA strives to transmit these letters within 30 to 60 days of receiving the appeal.

For more information about CMAP's Title VI process, please contact Patricia Berry (312-386-8742 or pberry@cmap.illinois.gov). View the web page in Spanish.