Posted on February, 12 2019
DART is collecting feedback on updates it is making to its Title VI Program. Title VI is part of the Civil Rights Act, and it ensures that people are not excluded from involvement in an organization or use of its services because of their race, color or national origin. DART is required by the FTA to update its Title VI Program and submit it for review every three years.
Learn more and get involved
DART is sharing more information about updates to our Titile VI Program on this webpage, and through two public meetings. Both meetings will be held in the Multimodal Room, which is located on the second floor of DART Central Station (620 Cherry St).
- Meeting 1: Monday, Feb. 18 at Noon
- Meeting 2: Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m.
Those unable to attend public meetings can learn more about DART’s proposed changes below. Comments can be submitted in person at the public meetings, in-person at the DART Customer Service Window in DART Central Station, or via email.
Free language, visual and hearing services are available at meetings upon request. Transportation services are also available. For requests, please call DART Customer Service at 515-283-8100.
Major Service Change Policy
As part of Title VI, the FTA requires that transit agencies set guidelines that help them decide whether changes made to service are a major service change. Major service changes require transit agencies to collect public feedback and complete a community analysis.
What is changing:
- DART will consider a service change a Major Service Change if it impacts 25 percent or more of a route’s revenue service hours or revenue miles.
- A service change would also be a Major Service Change if it impacts the total revenue hours for all of DART’s system by at least 10 percent.
Why it is changing:
- This change will make the way DART handles service change industry standard. It will also help to make the designation easier for riders and the public to understand.
More details on Major Service Change policy available here.
Service Equity Policies
Disparate impact on minority populations
What is changing:
- DART staff will analyze whether or not service changes impact minority populations at a rate of 5 percent or more when compared to non-minority populations.
- If a change impacts a minority population by a rate of, or higher than, 5 percent, DART would consider a different approach and conduct additional outreach.
Disparate impact on low-income populations
What is changing:
- DART staff will analyze whether or not service changes impact low-income populations at a rate of 5 percent or more when compared to non-minority populations.
- If a change impacts a low income population by a rate of, or higher than, 5 percent, DART would consider a different approach and conduct additional outreach.
Why it is changing:
- These changes take into consideration any statistical variation in impacts on vulnerable populations.
- It will also make DART’s policy consistent with other transit authorities.
More details on Service Equity Policies available here.
Fare Equity Policies
Disparate impact on minority populations
What is changing:
- DART staff will analyze whether or not fare changes impact minority populations at a rate of 5 percent or more when compared to DART’s ridership as a whole.
- If a change impacts a minority population by a rate of, or higher than, 5 percent, DART would consider a different approach and conduct additional outreach.
Disparate impact on low-income populations
What is changing:
- DART staff will analyze whether or not fare changes impact low-income populations at a rate of 5 percent or more when compared to non-minority populations.
- If a change impacts a low income population by a rate of, or higher than, 5 percent, DART would consider a different approach and conduct additional outreach.
Why it is changing:
- Both of these proposed changes allow DART to be able to track and analyze if any changes to fares have a greater impact on a vulnerable population when compared to DART’s ridership as a whole.
More details on Fare Equity Policies available here.
Public Participation Plan
DART’s Public Participation Plan is part of its overall Title VI Program that acts as a set of guidelines for DART to take into consideration when communicating with riders and the public. These guidelines include a range of topics, including considerations for when and where DART holds its public meetings, to types of communication methods used to reach the widest audience. Following this plan allows DART to ensure that vulnerable populations are kept informed of changes to DART’s service and enables these populations to participate in feedback.
As part of its updated Title VI Program, DART will analyze its Public Participation Plan to ensure that the ways it uses to communicate to riders of vulnerable populations are still the most effective.
More details on the Public Participation Plan available here.
Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Assistance and Language Assistance Implementation Plan
DART’s LEP Assistance Plan is part of its overall Title VI Program, and ensures that DART does not discriminate against people who may not be able to speak, read or write English. Through this program, DART ensures its information is translated into languages that riders may need, or that we have staff or contracted employees available at events to translate upon request. This plan also ensures that DART has vital documents, which includes applications, service change information, etc. available for LEP populations.
As part of the updated Title VI Program, DART is analyzing the LEP Assistance Plan to ensure that it is using methods that will reach a wide audience of the LEP population.
More details on the LEP Assistance and Language Assistance Implementation Plan available here.
Provide feedback
We want to know what you think about the changes we are proposing.
Let us know by attending one of our two upcoming public meetings. You can also email comments or give written comments to DART Customer Service at DART Central Station.