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Civil Rights - Title VI Info & Complaint Form

Any individual, group of individuals, or entity that believes they have been subjected to discrimination prohibited under Title VI and the related statutes may file a complaint using the complaint form.

The NOTICE TO BENEFICIARIES OF PROTECTION UNDER TITLE VI can be found here.

Please note that if you have a general complaint or concern, fill out one of our Feedback Forms or email us.

Overview

VRE is committed to a policy of non-discrimination, including its Title VI responsibilities, in the conduct of its business through the delivery of equitable and accessible transportation services. VRE recognizes its responsibilities to the communities in which it operates and to the society it services. It is VRE’s policy to utilize its best efforts to assure that no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under its program of transit service delivery on the grounds of race, color, or national origin as required by Title VI, as well as on the grounds of sex, religion, ancestry, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation or disability.

Toward this end, VRE embraces the following policy:

  • No person or group of persons will be discriminated against with regard to fares, routing, scheduling or quality of transportation services that VRE furnishes, on a basis described above.
  • Frequency of service, age and quality of VRE vehicles assigned to routes and location of routes will not be determined on a basis described above.
  • The full and fair participation of all affected populations in transportation decision making shall be promoted.
  • Disproportionately high adverse impacts of programs and activities on minority and low-income populations shall be identified and addressed as appropriate.
  • Meaningful access to programs and activities by persons with limited English proficiency shall be ensured.
  • Title VI Major Service Change & Fare/Service Equity

 

VRE Title VI Complaint and Investigation Procedures

All complaints will be sent to VRE’s Manager of Operations and Customer Communications, logged into the Title VI database, and forwarded to PRTC Title VI staff for investigation. The responsibility for day-to-day operations of this program, including the investigation of Title VI complaints, has been assigned to the Title VI staff of the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), a co-owner of the VRE. However, all VRE employees share in the responsibility for making VRE’s program a success.

 

For more information on VRE's non-discrimination obligations, please contact the Title VI coordinator using the information below:

Director of Rail Operations

Virginia Railway Express

1500 King Street, Suite 202

Alexandria, VA 22314

Phone: (703) 684-1001

Fax: (703) 684-1313

 

These procedures cover all complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 12898 “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations” (1994), and Executive Order 13166 “Improving Access to Services for Person with Limited English Proficiency” (2000), for alleged discrimination in any program or activity administered by the Virginia Railway Express (VRE). The complaint and investigation procedures are co-administered by the VRE and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), one of VRE’s owners.

Any individual, group of individuals, or entity that believes they have been subjected to discrimination prohibited under Title VI and the related statutes may file a complaint using the complaint form.

 

Please note that if you have a general complaint or concern, please fill out one of our Feedack Forms or email us. The Title VI Complaint is for complaints based on the grounds of  discrimination as outlined above only.

 

The following measures will be taken to resolve Title VI complaints:

  1. A formal complaint must be filed within 180 days of the alleged occurrence. Complaints shall be in writing and signed by the individual or his/her representative and will include the complainant’s name, address and telephone number; name of alleged discriminating person, basis of complaint (race, color, and national origin) and the date of the alleged act(s). A statement detailing the facts and circumstances of the alleged discrimination must accompany each complaint.

 

  1. In the case where a complainant is unable or incapable of providing a written statement, a verbal complaint of discrimination may be made to the VRE Manager of Operatons and Customer Communications. Under these circumstances, the complainant will be interviewed, and the VRE Manager of Operations and Customer Communications will assist the Complainant in converting the verbal complaint into a written complaint.

 

  1. When a complaint is received, the VRE Manager of Operations and Customer Communications will they will input the complaint in the Title VI database and submit the complaint to the PRTC Title VI Coordinator who will then provide written acknowledgement to the Complainant.

 

  1. If a complaint is deemed incomplete, additional information will be requested, and the Complainant will be provided thirty (30) business days to submit the required information. Failure to do so may be considered good cause for a determination of no investigative merit.

 

  1. Within fifteen (15) business days from receipt of a complete complaint, PRTC will determine whether the complaint has sufficient merit to warrant investigation as a Title VI complaint and will notify the Complainant. If the decision is not to investigate as a Title VI complaint, the notification shall specifically state the reason for the decision.

 

  1. If the complaint has investigative merit, a complete investigation will be conducted, and an investigative report will be completed within sixty (60) days from the receipt of the complaint. The report will include a narrative description of the incident, summaries of all persons interviewed, a finding with recommendations for remedial steps as appropriate and necessary. The remedial steps, if any, will be implemented as soon as practicable. The Complainant will receive a copy of the final report together with any remedial steps.

 

  1. If no violation is found and the Complainant wishes to appeal the decision, he or she may appeal directly to the Chief Executive Officer of VRE, 1500 King Street, Suite 202, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314.

 

  1. Complaints may also be filed with the Federal Transit Administration, Office of Civil Rights, Attention: Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th Floor-TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC 20590.

 

  1. The Title VI Coordinator shall maintain a log of Title VI complaints received from this process. The log shall include the date the complaint was filed; a summary of the allegations; the status of the complaint; and actions taken by PRTC in response to the complaint. Should PRTC receive a Title VI complaint in the form of a formal charge or lawsuit, the General Counsel shall be responsible for the investigation and maintaining a log as described above.