Title VI Complaint Procedures

The Ames Transit Agency (CyRide) is committed to a policy of non-discrimination in the conduct of its business, including its Title VI responsibilities –the delivery of equitable and accessible transportation services. CyRide recognizes its responsibilities to the Ames community in which it operates and to the society it serves. It is CyRide’s policy to utilize its best efforts to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under its program of transit service delivery and related benefits. For a complete viewing, please visit CyRide’s “Title VI - Statement of Policy.”

If you believe that you have been excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination based on race, color or national origin under CyRide’s transit service delivery or related benefits, you may file a complaint with the CyRide’s Assistant Director for Operations, 1700 University Blvd., Ames, IA 50010; by telephone (515) 292-1100; or by email at cyride@cyride.com. We encourage you to make your complaint in writing however comments can also be submitted verbally.

The Assistant Director of Operations will review and investigate every complaint promptly. Reasonable measures will be undertaken to preserve any information that is confidential. At a minimum the Assistant Director will:

Identify and review all relevant documents, practices and procedures;
Identify and interview persons with knowledge of the Title VI violation, i.e., the person making the complaint; witnesses or anyone identified by the Complainant; anyone who may have been subject to similar activity, or anyone with relevant information.

Upon completion of the investigation, the Assistant Director of Operations will complete a final report for the Director of Transit. If a Title VI violation is found to exist, remedial steps as appropriate and necessary will be taken immediately. The Complainant will also receive a final report together with any remedial steps. The investigation process and final report should take no longer than twenty-five (25) business days. If no violation is found and the complainant wishes to appeal the decision, he or she may appeal directly to the Director of Transit, 1700 University Boulevard, Ames, IA 50010.

The Assistant Director of Operations shall maintain a log of Title VI complaints received from this process which log shall include the date the complaint was filed; a summary of the allegations; the status of the complaint; and actions taken by the City of Ames/Ames Transit Agency (CyRide) in response to the complaint. Should CyRide receive a Title VI complaint in the form of a formal charge or lawsuit, the complaint will be forwarded to the City of Ames’ Attorney.

Complaints may also be filed with the following three organizations no later than 180 days after the date of the alleged discrimination:

Ames Human Relations Commission
c/o City Manager’s Office
City of Ames
515 Clark Avenue
Ames, IA 50010
515-239-5101
Ames Online Complaint Form: http://www.cityofames.org/CityClerk/Documents/MiscDocuments/AHRC_Complaint%20Form.pdf

Iowa Civil Rights Commission
400 East 14^th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-1004
515-281-4121
800-457-4416
How To File: http://www.iowa.gov/government/crc/file_complaint/index.html
Complaint Form: http://www.iowa.gov/government/crc/docs/revised_COMPLAINT_FORM_2007.htm

Federal Transit Administration’s Office of Civil Rights
Attention: Title VI Program Coordinator
400 7^th Street SW Room 9100
Washington, DC 20590
816-329-3770
http://www.fta.dot.gov/civilrights/title6/civil_rights_5104.html
For more information see “Filing a Title VI Complaint with the FTA.”