Each complaint which is received that alleges discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin will be investigated using the procedure below, whether it specifically references Title VI or not. The complainant will be notified within 7 days that their complaint has been received and is being investigated. This notice may include a request for additional information necessary to investigate the complaint (e.g. date or specific time of an incident). A written response of the determination will be provided to the complainant within 30 days whenever possible. If the investigation and determination cannot be completed within 30 days, the complainant will be provided with written notice including an explanation of the reason a longer time is required, and a deadline for a determination.
If the allegation concerns a specific incident involving a driver or information specialist, a preliminary investigation of the facts will be conducted by the AAATA Transportation Department management staff. It should be noted that all of AAATA’s buses and facilities are equipped with cameras. These cameras have proved to be extremely useful in resolving complaints about specific incidents. Transportation Management Staff will make a preliminary determination about the facts, recommend any disciplinary measures, and transmit the complaint to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Deputy CEO, or their delegate.
For more general allegations – e.g. regarding AAATA service design or fares – the CEO, Deputy CEO, or their delegate will determine the appropriate member of senior staff to conduct the preliminary investigation and report the findings and recommendations for corrective action to the CEO, Deputy CEO, or their delegate.
The CEO, Deputy CEO, or their delegate will review all complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin and the results of the preliminary investigation. The CEO, Deputy CEO, or their delegate will make a determination as to whether the allegation of discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin was valid, and any corrective action that will be taken. Note that even if the allegation of discrimination is determined to be invalid, corrective action may still be warranted in some cases.
The CEO, Deputy CEO, or their delegate will provide her or his findings in writing to the complainant, including whether the allegation of discrimination was found to be valid, and corrective actions that the AAATA has taken or promises to take. The letter will inform the complainant of the opportunity to provide additional information that may lead the AAATA to reconsider its decision, and of the complainant’s right to file a complaint with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
