“TITLE VI TITLE VI “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.”
Montebello Bus Lines (together, hereinafter, referred to as “MBL”), 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 as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.
No person or group of persons will be discriminated against with regard to fares, routing, scheduling, or quality of transportation service that MBL furnishes, on the basis of race, color or national origin.
In addition, the frequency of service, age and quality of MBL vehicles assigned to routes, quality of MBL bus stops, and location of routes will not be determined on the basis of race, color or national origin.
How do I file a Title VI complaint?
If you have been excluded from, denied the benefits of, or been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, you may file a written complaint with MBL. Federal law requires that complaints be filed within one-hundred eighty (180) calendar days of the alleged incident.
The Title VI Complaint Form may be printed from the City of Montebello website cityofmontebello.com/civil-rights.html or may also be requested from MBL Customer Service at (323) 558-1625. The Complaint Form is also available for pick-up at the Department of Transportation, 400 S. Taylor Ave., Montebello. The complaint form should include the following information:
1. Complainants name, address, and contact information (i.e. telephone number, email address, etc.)
2. Description of how, when, where, and why you believe you were discriminated against. Include the location, names, and contact information of any witnesses
The completed form must be returned to:
Montebello Bus Line
Attn: Title VI Complaints
400 S. Taylor Avenue
Montebello, CA 90640
(323) 558-1625 x115
In addition to the Title VI complaint process at MBL, a complainant may file the Title VI complaint with the:
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Transit Administration
Office of Civil Rights
Attention: Complaint Team
East Building, 5th Floor – TCR
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Complainants may also file a Title VI complaint with an external entity such as the Department of Justice, other Federal or State agency, or a Federal or State court. However, should a complaint e filed with MBL and an external entity simultaneously, the external complaint will supersede the MBL complaint and MBL’s complaint procedures will be suspended pending the external entity’s findings.
Who can file a complaint?
Any person who believes they have been excluded from, denied the benefits of, or been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, may file a written complaint with MBL.
Federal law requires that complaints be filed within one-hundred eighty (180) calendar days of the alleged incident.
What happens to my complaint to MBL?
All complaints alleging discrimination based on race, color or national origin in a service or benefit provided by MBL will be recorded.
MBL staff will forward the Title VI complaint to the Title VI Coordinator and will provide appropriate assistance to complainants, including persons with disabilities, or who are limited in their ability to communicate in English.
In instances where additional information is needed for assessment or investigation of the complainant, MBL will contact the complainant within fifteen (15) working days. Failure of the complainant to provide the requested information by a certain date may result in the administrative closure of the complainant.
MBL will investigate the complaint and prepare a response subject to review by the MBL’s Director of Transportation. If appropriate, MBL may administratively close the complaint and advise the complainant of his/her right to file a complaint externally.
The complainant also will be advised of his/her rights to appeal the response to Federal and State authorities as appropriate. MBL will make every effort to respond to a Title VI complaint within sixty (60) working days of its receipt of such a complaint, unless a complaint is filed with MBL and an external entity simultaneously as noted previously.
How will I be notified of the outcome?
MBL will send a final written response to the complainant and advise the complainant of his or her right to file a complaint externally. MBL will use its best efforts to respond to Title VI complaints within 60 workdays of its receipt of such complaints.
Who can file a complaint?
An outcome letter will be forwarded after the investigation is completed. Parties will have 14 calendar days from the date of the outcome letter to appeal.
Documents Associated with Title VI
1. Title VI Program
2. Title VI Notice of Rights
3. Title VI Complaint Process & Form
4. Title VI Public Participation Plan
5. Title VI Program Language Assistance Plan
6. Title VI Notice Advising LEP Persons of Free Language Assistance