Okaloosa County BOCC — March 4, 2014 — Title VI and Nondiscrimination Policy and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan — reading text

On-Board Transit Survey: OCT riders will have an on-board survey administered to assist in identifying transit needs, desires, issues & concerns. The survey will collect detailed demographic information & travel information about OCT bus riders, and also assess their level of satisfaction with aspects of the transit service provided. The survey will cover all bus routes and a minimum of 100 surveys will be completed. (Annually) 5 Ø Survey of OCT Staff & Bus Operators: OCT staff & bus operators will also be surveyed regarding their perception of needs, issues, and concerns with the Sunshine Bus system. (Annually) Ø Origin / Destination Analysis: An origin-destination analysis of a sampling of trips will be conducted to determine travel patterns and peak travel times. (Annually) Outreach to Low Income and Minority Communities Outreach to low-income and minority communities are addressed in the following ways. 1. Outreach to low-income and minority population will be identified through the Local Coordinating Board for the Transportation Disadvantaged. This 15 member board consisting of members from local agencies who work with the local disadvantaged population, can disseminate Title VI information through their daily contact with the low-income and minority populations they serve. 2. The placement of information items such as brochures will target areas where low-income and minority populations congregate. Local churches, community centers, the County Health Department, Work Force Development, Department of Children and Families, and public libraries are areas that have been identified for this purpose. 3. In the event a public meeting concerning OCT, at least one location will be within the area of the low-income/minority community. The meeting will also be held where those who wish to attend can use transit. Additional Outreach (The outlined outreach opportunities are in addition to the Transit Public Involvement Plan and are used for Transit program development and planning) As an agency receiving federal financial assistance, OCT has engaged the public in its planning and decision-making processes, as well as its marketing and community outreach activities. The public has been invited to participate in these activities: Transit Improvement Plan (TIP). The TIP is a fiscally constrained three-year planning document that addresses transportation projects and programs including: federal, state and local highways, transit, ridesharing, bike paths and pedestrian facilities. If an item we wish to purchase is not in the TIP, it cannot be funded. The TIP process includes public hearings and public comment periods. Communities are contacted by the TPO directly; newspaper announcements are published in the local newspaper of all meetings. Community outreach is conducted in areas where minorities and/or low-income individuals are available. OCT advertises on their revenue buses meetings and will work the clients to meetings that are outside service areas. Sign in sheets are always furnished to document attendees, information is collected to have the ability to contact individuals for future meetings. Notices always display the following “The Okaloosa-Walton TPO adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable modification for access to their meetings upon request. Please call Ms. Dorothy McKenzie at 1-800-226-8914 Ext. 230 to make a request. Requests must be received at least 48 hours in advance of any meeting in order to allow the TPO time to provide requested services.” 6  Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Board Meetings. The BCC holds two meetings monthly and the public is invited to attend. The meetings are advertised and can be streamed live via the internet. Public Meetings. When new service is proposed information is disseminated to the neighborhoods affected and public meetings are scheduled. Funding Applications. We submit to the Florida Department of Transportation annually an application for funding. The application requests funding for operating assistance. Should capital purchases be considered a public notice is required, which includes a 30-day public comment period. Transit Development Service Plan (TDSP). The Okaloosa County Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan (TDSP) addresses the needs of elderly, disabled or economically disadvantaged people in Okaloosa County, and reflects a careful review of various data, travel patterns, policies, agency responsibilities and funding to define a five-year detailed implementation plan to help meet those needs. Meetings are conducted at facilities where public transit routes operate. Job Access and Reverse Commute Program (Section 5316), and New Freedom Program (Section 5317) be derived from a coordinated plan. Local entities were recruited to attend a workshop hosted by the TPO on the Section 5316 and 5317 programs. The workshop was publicly advertised in the local newspaper and community leaders were contacted individually. The BCC/ OCT also work with the Okaloosa-Walton TPO extensively to engage the public. As stated by the TPO, in order to plan for efficient, effective, safe, equitable, and reliable transportations systems, the TPO must have the input of its public. The TPO spends extensive staff and financial resources in furtherance of this goal and strongly encourages the participation of the entire community. The TPO offers a number of volunteer roles for those wishing to become more involved in the planning process. The TPO also holds a number of transportation meetings, workshops, and other events designed to gather public input on planning activities. Further, the TPO attends and participates in other community events to promote its programs and improve its name recognition in the public. F. Language Assistance Plan for providing language assistance to persons with limited English proficiency (LEP), based on the DOT LEP Guidance: Okaloosa County BCC/Okaloosa County Transit Provider Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan is included as Appendix F. G. Non-Elected Committees and Councils, broken down by race, and agency Okaloosa County Board of County Commission is a direct recipient of federal funding. The BCC does not have a designated transportation non-elected board at this time. 7 H. Primary Recipients shall include a description of how the agency monitors its sub recipients for compliance with Title VI, and a schedule of sub recipient Title VI Program submissions Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners/ Okaloosa County Transit does not have sub recipients, however if that changes, they will submit an agreement to follow Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners/ Okaloosa County Transit Title VI Plan. I. A Title VI equity analysis if the recipient has constructed a facility, such as a vehicle storage facility, maintenance facility, operation center, etc. Currently, no construction projects using FTA funds are underway and none are scheduled in the near or distant future. In the event that a construction project is programs, prior to the start of the project a Categorical Exclusion will be completed and approved by the Federal Transit Administration. A copy of the FTA’s standard CE checklist is kept on file along with the NFPA 1600 document. Prior to any future projects that may come about the following will be integrated into any required analysis: • A description of the low-income and minority population within the study area affected by the project • A discussion of all adverse effects of the project both during and after construction that would affect the identified low-income and minority population • A discussion of all positive effects that would affect the identified low-income and minority population, such as an improvement in transit service, mobility, or accessibility • A description of all mitigation and environmental enhancement actions incorporated into the project to address any adverse effects • A discussion of remaining effects, if any, and why further mitigation is not proposed • A comparison of mitigation and environmental enhancement actions that effect predominantly low-income and minority areas J. Board Minutes, Resolution, and other appropriate documentation showing the Board of Directors reviews and approved the Title VI Program This Plan was approved and the Assurances signed on March 4, 2014. Please see Appendix G. 8 III. System-wide Standards and Policies A. System-Wide Standards 1. Vehicle load for each mode: Vehicle load on average is 37% on a 14 passenger bus. 2. Vehicle Headway for each mode: Vehicle headway on average is 30 minutes. 3. On Time Performance for each mode: On time performance on average is 97% - 98%. 4. Service Availability for each mode: We provide 9 deviated fixed routes in Okaloosa County. We serve the medical community, shopping centers, banks, restaurants and other businesses in Okaloosa County. B. System-Wide Policies 1. Distribution of transit amenities for each mode: The amenities provided on the routes. As of February 2014 there are 220 total stops in the transit system. The fixed route in Okaloosa County is considered small and the number of stops, routes and amenities reflect the small size. We currently have 180 stops with bus stop signs, 5 with benches. There are 40 with missing signs that are in the process of being replaced. Okaloosa County conducted a complete bus stop accessibility compliance study in 2013 and are in the process of securing funding to make all bus stops ADA compliant or to change routes to accommodate ADA access. It is the desire of the transit provider to install more benches in the future. 2. Vehicle Assignment for each mode: Amenities are the same for all Okaloosa County Transit vehicles. All vehicles provide temperature control (heat/AC) and wheelchair lifts. There are no other available amenities. 9 IV. Conclusion Okaloosa County BCC is committed to a policy of non-discrimination in the conduct of its business, including its Title VI responsibilities, and to the delivery of equitable and accessible transportation services. Okaloosa County BCC recognizes its responsibilities to the community in which it serves and to the citizens of the county. It is the Okaloosa County BCC policy to utilize its best efforts to assure that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of its transit services on the basis of race, color, or national origin, as protected by Title VI. Okaloosa County BCC/Okaloosa County Transit Provider will continue to work with our community to offer services equitably and assist our customers to the extent our budget allows. 10 Appendix A Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and supplemental legislation prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin