Discrimination Complaint Form
Notification to Beneficiaries
VPTA’s notice to beneficiaries of protection from discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin is provided below.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
VPTA operates its program and service without regard to race, color and national origin as stipulated in the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you feel you have been discriminated against based on your race, color or national origin, you may file a complaint with the VPTA Title VI Officer at (833) 387-7200. You also have the right to file a complaint with the Vermont Agency of Transportation at (802) 595-6959. For more information about your Title VI rights, please visit http://vtranscivilrights.vermont.gov or call (802) 595-6959.
Title VI Complaint Procedure and Form
Receiving and Documenting Complaints:
Complaints via Phone Call: When a member of the public calls VPTA and states that s/he wishes to file a Title VI complaint, the staff member will document the complaint using the Title VI Complaint Form (attached). Should the Title VI officer be unavailable to take the call, the Title VI officer shall call the individual back within three business days of the original phone call.
Complaints via Email/Mail: When a member of the public submits a complaint via email or through the mail that is related to Title VI, it should be forwarded to the Title VI officer by whichever staff member receives it. If the emailed/mailed complaint does not include sufficient information to fill out the Title VI Complaint Form, the Title VI officer will contact the individual to obtain the needed information. In all cases, the Title VI officer will reply to the individual to confirm receipt of the complaint. The Title VI officer shall reply to the email within three business days.
Enter the Complaint into the VPTA Title VI Complaint and Lawsuit Log:
Any Title VI complaint received by VPTA shall be entered into the VPTA Title VI Complaint and Lawsuit Log. The following information must be included in the log:
- Date the complaint was filed
- A summary of the allegations
- The status of the investigation
- Actions taken by the recipient in response
Internal Investigation of Title VI Complaints:
After a Title VI complaint is received and fully documented using the Title VI Complaint Form, the Title VI officer will initiate an internal investigation of the complaint. If requested by the complainant or warranted based on the investigation, the Title VI officer will contact the complainant at the conclusion of the investigation to report on any findings or potential changes as a result of the complaint.
Notice shall include information regarding appeal rights of the complainant and instructions for initiating an appeal. The first level of appeal is to VTrans. Contact information is:
Vermont Agency of Transportation
Office of Civil Rights & Labor Compliance
Patricia Martin Title VI/ADA Coordinator for the State of Vermont
219 North Main Street
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 595-6959
Fax: (802) 479-5506
If the complainant is dissatisfied with the determination and/or resolution set forth by VTrans, the same complaint may be submitted to FTA for investigation. Complainant will be advised to contact the Federal Transit Administration, Office of Civil Rights, Transportation Center, Kendall Square, 55 Broadway, Suite 920, Cambridge, MA 02142-1093.
Vermont State Public Accommodation Law
9V.S.A4502 (a) Public accommodations states an owner or operator of a place of public accommodation or an agent or employee of such owner or operator shall not, because of the race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity of any person, refuse, withhold from, or deny to that person any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of the place of public accommodation. If you feel you have been discriminated against, you may file a complaint with Vermont Human Rights Commission by calling (800)416-2010 or email at human.rights@vermont.gov
ADA Reasonable Modification Policy
In accordance with FTA 49 CFR, Parts 27 and 37, Vermont Public Transportation Association is committed to ensuring a reliable, accessible experience for all customers. All requests for reasonable modifications to VPTA programs and services will be considered on an individual basis. Please note that VPTA may be unable to accommodate requests for reasonable modifications which would result in a fundamental alteration to the nature of VPTA programs and services, or which would directly interfere with the health and safety of others. In the event that a barrier to access exists, but the requested modification cannot be granted, VPTA will, to the maximum extent possible, assist in determining an alternate reasonable modification to provide equivalent access to its programs and services.
For more information on VPTA's reasonable modification and the procedures to file a request or complaint, contact VPTA's ADA Coordinator at (802)442-0629, info@vptaride.org, or at our administrative office at 160 Benmont Avenue Suite 11 Bennington, VT 05201. You may also complete, print and mail a complaint form here.
Discrimination Complaint Form
Note: VPTA encourages, but does not require, riders to first file complaints with their local transit agencies to give them an opportunity to resolve the issues.
You will be contacted within three business days about this complaint. Thank you.
Vermont Public Transportation Association
Email: info@vptaride.org
Telephone: 802-442-0629
Fax: 802-442-0617