sanders

406-741-2346

Sanders County Transportation

TITLE VI PLAN 2024-2027

Title VI Contact Name:  Kelly Dossett
Title VI Contact Phone: 406-741-2346
Title VI Contact Email:  kellyd@ridesct.com
 
Introduction to Agency
Sanders County Transportation serves residents in the following Sanders County communities:  Hot Springs, Lone Pine, Camas Prairie, Plains, Paradise, Dixon, Thompson Falls, Belknap/Whitepine, Trout Creek, Noxon, and Heron.  The program provides demand response transit within the county and to residents that require transportation locally and out-of-county to Missoula, Kalispell, Polson, and Sandpoint, ID.  Clients are asked to make reservations 24 hours in advance and are picked up at home, at one of our partner agency sites, or other public meeting places.  We accept reservations for:  medical appointments, transit to work, training sessions, meetings with case workers, personal business trips to the Courthouse and State Buildings, shopping, visiting family members and recreational trips.

Sanders County Transportation also provides transportation of clients to 4 participating senior centers in Sanders County.  Sanders County Transportation is a Medicaid Transportation provider and processes Medicaid Transportation payments as applicable for our clients.

Sanders County Transportation has been receiving 5311 funds for approximately 20 years.  Sanders County Transportation is a division of Sanders County Council on Aging and is governed by an elected board.  The executive board currently has 4 members with 1 seat being vacant and there are 13 representatives from Senior Centers, County Officials, and other partners.

Title VI Program Requirements
Public Notice
Sanders County Transportation posts the Public Notice of Title VI Program Rights (below) in the following locations: rideSCT.com, interior of vehicles, at our main office at 203 Main St, Hot Springs, MT.

Public Notice of Title VI Program Rights
Sanders County Transportation gives public notice of its policy to uphold and assure full compliance with the non-discrimination requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related nondiscrimination authorities. Title VI and related nondiscrimination authorities stipulate that no person in the United States of America shall, on the ground of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, income level or limited English proficiency be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Any person who desires more information regarding MDT’s Title VI Program can contact Kelly Dossett at the address noted below.  Any person who believes they have, individually or as a member of any specific class of persons, been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, income level or limited English proficiency, has the right to file a formal complaint. Any such complaint must be in writing and submitted within 180 days following the date of the alleged occurrence to:

Kelly Dossett
Sanders County Transportation
203 Main St/PO Box 339
Hot Springs, MT 59845
406-741-2343
kellyd@ridesct.com

A complainant may file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration at the following address:

Office of Civil Rights Federal Transit Administration
Attention: Title VI Program Coordinator East Building, 5th Floor – TCR
1200 New Jersey Ave SE Washington, DC 20590

If information is needed in another language, please contact MDT’s Office of Civil Rights at 406-444-6334.

Complaints:  The following procedures cover complaints filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987:

Any person who believes they, or any specific class of persons, were subjected to prohibited discrimination based on race, color or national origin may file a written complaint individually or through a representative. A complaint must be filed no later than 180 days after the date of the alleged discrimination, unless the discrimination is ongoing, or the time for filing is extended by the FTA.

Sanders County Transportation has adopted MDT’s complaint form, which is located on our website: ridesct.com and hard copies in the main office at 203 Main St, Hot Springs, MT and all Sanders County Transportation vehicles.

Complaints alleging violations of Title VI by Sanders County Transportation may be filed in writing with the following agencies:

              Sanders County Transportation
              203 Main St./PO Box 339
              406-741-2343
              kellyd@ridesct.com

Montana Department of Transportation Office of Civil Rights
2701 Prospect Ave
PO Box 201001
Helena, Montana 59601
Phone: 406-444-6334
TTY: 800-335-7592
Fax: 406-444-7243
Email: mdtcrform@mt.gov

Office of Civil Rights
US Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave SE Washington DC 20590

If information is needed in another language, please contact MDT’s Office of Civil Rights at 406-444-6334.

Sanders County Transportation adopts MDT’s complaint processing procedures, which are consistent with FTA’s Title VI Requirements and Guidelines for Federal Transit Administration Recipients. Additional information can be found in MDT’s Title VI Plan: ridesct.com and FTA’s website: https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/civil-rights-ada/file- complaint-fta.

Complaint Log
Sanders County Transportation tracks civil rights complaints in the following table and submits to MDT Office of Civil Rights on an annual basis.

For the period 4/26/2021 to 4/26/24 there were zero (0) Title VI complaints filed against Sanders County Transportation.

Public Participation Plan
Sanders County Transportation engages the public in its planning and decision-making processes, as well as its marketing and outreach activities. The public will be invited to participate in the process whether through public meetings or surveys.

As an agency receiving federal financial assistance, Sanders County Transportation made the following community outreach efforts and activities to engage minority, Limited English Proficient populations, or other traditionally underserved populations since the last Title VI Plan submittal to MDT Office of Civil Rights.

Sanders County Transportation routinely checks the bulletin boards of 5 Senior Centers throughout the county at least once a month to verify that our outreach materials are still posted.

Language Assistance Plan
Sanders County Transportation adopts MDT’s Language Assistance Plan: mdt.mt.gov/other/webdata/external/civilrights/limited_english_proficiency_plan.pdf

Montana’s demographic makeup does not meet the Federal threshold that requires mandatory written translation in any language, but Sanders County Transportation has resources available to provide language assistance if needed. MDT provides the Language Identification and Assistance Guide to transit providers, which gives guidance for how to provide interpretation services when interacting with LEP individuals. mdt.mt.gov/other/webdata/external/civilrights/Language-Assistance-Guide.pdf

Sanders County Transportation evaluates its ridership and populations within its service area and will coordinate with MDT Office of Civil Rights if the frequency of interactions with LEP individuals would require written translation.

Transit Committee
Sanders County Transportation has a transit-related, non-elected advisory council. The racial breakdown of membership on the advisory council is as follows:  White.

Sanders County Transportation takes the following efforts made to encourage participation of minorities or other traditionally underserved populations:  All five (5) senior centers in our network send representatives to attend our TAC meetings and are encouraged to run for office.

Equity Analysis
A transit provider planning to acquire land to construct certain types of facilities must not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin, against persons who may be impacted by the siting of the facility. MDT Office of Civil Rights will conduct a Title VI equity analysis to compare various siting alternatives prior to selection of the preferred site.

Sanders County Transportation did not develop new transit facilities covered by these requirements.

System-wide Service Standards and Policies
Based on size of transit providers and population, none of MDT sub-recipients meet the additional requirements for fixed route transit providers. However, all transit providers that operate fixed route service must have system-wide standards and policies.  Sanders County Transportation is not a fixed-route provider.