Know Your Civil Rights

Notifying the Public of Their Rights Under Title VI

Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc. (TCAT)

TCAT and its paratransit provider, Gadabout Transportation Services, Inc., operate their programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint with TCAT.

For more information on TCAT’s civil rights program, and how to file a complaint (see below) or contact  (607) 277-9388 ext. 560; (TTY Relay users, please dial 711); email tcat@tcatmail.com, or visit our offices at 737 Willow Ave., Ithaca,  (607) 277-9766; email tcat@tcatmail.com; or visit our administrative office at 737 Willow Ave., Ithaca, NY, 14850.

You may file a complaint directly with TCAT or with the New York State Department of Transportation, Office of Civil Rights, 50 Wolf Road, 6th Floor, Albany, NY 12232; Phone: (518) 457-1129; Fax: (518) 549-1273; Email OCR-TitleVI@dot.ny.gov

Or 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; Phone: (888)446-4511; or email: FTACivilRightsCommunications@dot.gov

If information is needed in another language, please contact (607) 277-9388, ext. 560.

• If you know of someone or you need a language translator, call TCAT at (607)277‑7433 or Gadabout at (607)273­‑1878.
• 如果您需要语言翻译，请拨打(607)277‑7433致电TCAT或拨打(607)273­‑1878致电Gadabout
• 만약 한국어 통역이 필요하시면, TCAT에 (607)277-7433 혹은 Gadabout에 (607)273-1878로 전화하십시오
• Si Usted necesita un interprete, por favor llame a TCAT (607)277‑7433 o Gadabout (607)273­‑1878.
• Если вам нужен вызов переводчик: TCAT (607)277‑7433 Gadabout (607)273‑1878.
• Si vous avez besoin d’un traducteur de langage, téléphonez à TCAT au (607)277‑7433 ou à Gadabout au (607)273­‑1878.

 Complaints must be made by email, postal service, phone or in person to TCAT no later than (one-hundred-eighty) 180 calendar days after the alleged incident. TCAT has up to, but no longer than ten (10) business days to contact the complainant and acknowledge receipt of the complaint by email, phone or in person from the date of the complaint’s receipt. At that time, TCAT will offer the complainant the option to fill out a formal complaint form and/or will record any additional information the complainant may have to offer.

Upon receipt of the formal complaint form, the complainant as soon as possible but no later than (30) business days (of receipt) must return the completed form and/ or provide any additional information that TCAT requests. The complainant may do this by email, postal service, phone or in person to the TCAT Civil Rights officer, transit supervisor or any designee who is investigating the complaint or overseeing the investigation. If TCAT cannot reach the complainant or does not receive the additional information within those thirty (30) businesses days of the initial complaint, TCAT can administratively close the case. A case can be administratively closed also if the complainant states that she/he/they no longer wish to pursue the matter.

Investigations will take place within but no later than the thirty (30) business days from date the initial complaint was made if the complainant chooses not to fill out a formal complaint form or chooses not to provide additional information. However, if the complainant provides TCAT with new information in a completed formal complaint form or provides additional information, TCAT will have thirty (30) business upon the date of receipt of that new information to investigate. Upon completion of the investigation in either scenario, TCAT’s Civil Rights Officer or designee will send one of two letters: a closure letter or a letter of finding (LOF). A closure letter is one that summarizes the allegations and states that there was not a Title VI violation and that the case is closed. An LOF is one that summarizes the allegations and investigation regarding the alleged incident, and explains whether any disciplinary action, additional training of the staff member or disciplinary other action will occur. TCAT will require confirmation with delivery receipts or via phone call to the complaint.

If the complainant is not satisfied with the closure, he/she/they will have an additional have thirty (30) business days to appeal from the date of receipt of the closure letter. Appeals must be to the TCAT Civil Rights Officer or designee, who will then forward the appeal to the TCAT Board of Directors Chairperson. The TCAT Board Chairperson will designate an Appeals Committee comprised of three people, one TCAT Board member, one staff member and one member of the TCAT Riders Advisory and Accessibility Committee, or another rider. The Appeals Committee will convene as soon as possible but no later than thirty (30) business days upon the notification of the appeal and to review all information gleaned during the investigation. The Appeals Committee may interview the complainant and the investigator (which could include a transit supervisor, Gadabout manager, subcontractor manager or their designees. The Appeals Committee will deliver a finding by majority up to but no later than thirty (30) business days of the date of the first convening of the Appeals Committee. The Appeals Committee will notify the Civil Rights Officer or designee of its decision whether to uphold or dismiss the appeal. The Civil Rights officer, in turn, will notify the complaint of that decision via letter or email or by phone call as soon as possible within ten (10) business days from the date of the decision.