Title VI Complaint and Investigation Procedures
As a recipient of federal funds, Yolo Transportation District (YoloTD) has certified and provided assurances that it will fully comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. YoloTD is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of its services, on the basis of race, color, or national origin. No person or group of persons shall be discriminated against with regard to the routing, scheduling, or quality of transportation service that YoloTD furnishes on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Frequency of service, age and quality of vehicles assigned to routes, quality of stations serving different routes, and location of routes may not be determined on the basis of race, color, or national origin, in full compliance with Title VI.
Any person who believes that he or she, individually or as a member of any specific class of persons, has been subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, or national origin with regard to any YoloTD transit service, program, or facility, may file a written complaint with YoloTD.
A complaint must be filed within 180 days after the date of the alleged discrimination, unless the time for filing is extended by YoloTD.
All complaints alleging discrimination should be submitted in writing directly to the YoloTD Title VI Program Administrator at the address listed below. The YoloTD Title VI Program Administrator or his/her designee shall be responsible for overseeing investigations and responses to complaints of discrimination.
Yolo Transportation District
Attn: YoloTD Title VI Program Administrator/ Director of Transit Operations
350 Industrial Way
Woodland, CA 95776
All complaints should be completed and submitted on the YoloTD Title VI Complaint Form (see below for downloadable forms), by phone request at (530) 402-2864, or in person at the YoloTD offices located at 350 Industrial Way, Woodland, CA 95776. Additional accessible formats of the form are also available.
At a minimum, all complaints filed must provide the following information:
- Complainant’s Name,
- Complainant’s Address,
- Complainant’s Phone Number,
- Complainant’s Email (if available),
- Detailed description of complaint/incident,
- Date of complaint/incident,
- Time of complaint/incident,
- Location of complaint/incident,
- Route Number (if applicable),
- Name(s) and contact information of witnesses (if applicable),
- Any other information relevant to the complaint, and
- Signature (with date) of person submitting complaint.
Complaints received with incomplete information may result in delayed investigations and responses. All complaints MUST be signed.
Within 10 business days of receiving the complaint, the YoloTD Title VI Program Administrator (YoloTD Director of Transit Operations) will review to determine if YoloTD has jurisdiction. The complainant will receive an acknowledgement letter informing her/him whether the complaint will be investigated by YoloTD.
If the complaint submitted is within YoloTD’s jurisdiction and is complete, a case will be opened and a case/reference number and investigator will be assigned.
If necessary, an investigation will be conducted and completed within 30 days of the receipt of the formal complaint (30-Day Rule). If a time extension to the 30-Day Rule is required, the complainant will be notified in writing of the reason for the extension.
If additional information is required to resolve the case, YoloTD may contact the complainant. The complainant has 10 business days from the date of the letter to send requested information to the Title VI Program Administrator investigator. If the investigator is not contacted by the complainant or does not receive the additional information within 10 business days, YoloTD may administratively close the case.
A case may also be closed administratively if the complainant no longer wishes to pursue his/her case.
Following the investigation, the Title VI Program Administrator will issue one of two letters to the complainant:
- Closure Letter; or
- Letter of Finding (LOF).
A Closure Letter summarizes the complaint allegations and will state that there was no Title VI violation and that the case will be closed.
A Letter of Finding will summarize the complaint allegations and the investigation regarding the alleged incident. The LOF will also explain whether any disciplinary action, additional training of a staff member, or other action will occur.
If the complainant is unsatisfied with the decision, he/she has 30 days from the date of YoloTD’s Closure Letter or the LOF to appeal to the YoloTD Executive Director or their designee. The complainant is entitled to review the denial, to present additional information and arguments, and to separation of functions (i.e., a decision by a person not involved with the initial decision to deny eligibility). The complainant is entitled to receive written notification of the decision of the appeal and the reasons for it.
The complainant may also file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration by submitting the complaint in writing to the following address:
Title VI Program Coordinator
FTA Office of Civil Rights
East Building, 5th Floor – TCR
1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E.
Washington, DC 20590