Title VI, Nondiscrimination and Accessibility
It is the policy of the RPCGB and the Birmingham MPO not to exclude, deny, or discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, immigration status, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, veteran status, familial or marital status, disability, medical or genetic condition, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law in its hiring or employment practices, or in its admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities.
As part of its general planning and programming process, the Birmingham MPO strives to involve as broad a cross-section of the population and the region as possible. The Birmingham MPO makes special efforts to reach out to segments of the community and organizations that may have a special interest in transportation.
Legislation
Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act states that “no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subject to discrimination under any program or activity that is a recipient of federal financial assistance.”
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 The Americans with Disabilities Act, which became law in 1990, is the first comprehensive civil rights law passed by U.S. Congress prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life, including but not limited to; employment, government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation. Title II of the ADA applies to all public entities, regardless of their size or receipt of federal financial assistance.
Executive Order 12898: Environmental Justice (EJ) A 1994 Presidential Executive Order directed every federal agency to make Environmental Justice (EJ) a part of its mission by identifying and addressing the effects of all programs, policies, and activities on “minority populations and low-income populations.” The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Environmental Justice states that Environmental Justice is “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the executive of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies.”
Executive Order 13166: Limited English Proficiency (LEP) This order requires any agency receiving federal funding to examine the services it provides, identify any need for services to those having Limited English Proficiency (LEP), and develop and implement a system by which LEP persons can meaningfully access those services without unduly burdening the fundamental mission of the agency.
Documents
Fiscal Year Reports
Other
Link to ALDOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (DBE) and Alabama Unified Certification Program
ALDOT’s DBE Program Plan applies to all subrecipients, local public agencies, etc. who are award federally assisted contracts. All ALDOT subrecipients of FHWA funds must comply with ALDOT’s DBE Program Plan and may not have a plan independent from the ALDOT.
The Birmingham MPO’s DBE participation is counted toward ALDOT’s overall DBE goal. ALDOT’s current FHWA overall goal for Fiscal Years 2022 through 2024 is 8.65% (2.20% race-neutral and 6.45% race-conscious). For legal sufficiency approval, ALDOT is not required to submit another overall goal methodology to FHWA until August 1, 2024. Click here to download ALDOT’s current DBE Program document.
For any and all inquiries regarding the application of the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham’s Title VI Program and policies related to nondiscrimination and accessibility, or to request an accommodation, please contact:
Brooke Harper, Title VI Coordinator, at 205-251-8139 or bharper@rpcgb.org