The Southeastern Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization is committed, through its Title VI Program and Public Participation Plan, to conducting all of its programs and activities to ensure that protected populations have equal access to the benefits of, and have meaningful opportunities to participate in, the SMMPO’s transportation planning process.
Federal “Title VI/Nondiscrimination” Protections
The Southeastern Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (SMMPO), through the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) operates its programs, services, and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and related statutes and regulations. Title VI prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs and requires that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency), be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal assistance.
In addition to Title VI, other Nondiscrimination statutes provide legal protection. These statutes include the following: Section 162 (a) of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 (23 U.S.C. 324), Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. ADA specifies that programs and activities funded with Federal dollars are prohibited from discrimination based on disability. The planning regulations, at 23 CFR 450.316(a)(1)(vii), require that the needs of those “traditionally underserved” by existing transportation systems, such as low-income and/or minority households, be sought out and considered. These protected categories are contemplated within SRPEDD’s Title VI Programs consistent with federal and state interpretation and administration. Additionally, SRPEDD provides meaningful access to its programs, services, and activities to individuals with limited English proficiency.
Title VI Notice to the Public- English
Title VI Notice to the Public - Portuguese
Title VI Notice to the Public - Spanish
Title VI Notice to the Public - Haitian Creole
Title VI Notice to the Public - Traditional Chinese
Title VI Notice to the Public - Simplified Chinese
Title VI Notice to the Public - Mon Khmer Cambodian
Complaint Filing
Individuals seeking additional information or wishing to file a Title VI/Nondiscrimination complaint may contact the SRPEDD Title VI/Nondiscrimination Coordinator at the contact information here. All such complaints must be received, in writing, within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory occurrence. A complaint may be filed with the following:
Southeastern Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (SMMPO)
Andrea Duarte, Transportation Outreach Coordinator
SRPEDD
88 Broadway, Taunton, MA 02780
Phone: 508 824-1367 or dial 711 to use MassRelay
Email: aduarte@srpedd.org
The MassDOT Title VI Specialist
MassDOT Office of Diversity and Civil Rights
10 Park Plaza, Suite 3800, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 857-368‐8580 or 7‐1‐1 for Relay Service.
Email:MassDOT.CivilRights@state.ma.us
The MassDOT Office of Diversity and Civil Rights – Investigations Unit
Assistant Secretary of Diversity & Civil Rights, MassDOT
10 Park Plaza, Suite 3800, Boston, MA 02116
Email: odcrcomplaints@dot.state.ma.us
Nondiscrimination/T6 Complaint Process- English
Nondiscrimination/T6 Complaint Form – English
Nondiscrimination/T6 Complaint Process - Portuguese
Nondiscrimination/T6 Complaint Form – Portuguese
Nondiscrimination/T6 Complaint Process -Spanish
Nondiscrimination/T6 Complaint Form – Spanish
Nondiscrimination/T6 Complaint Process - Haitian Creole
Nondiscrimination/T6 Complaint Form – Haitian Creole
Nondiscrimination/T6 Complaint Process - Traditional Chinese
Nondiscrimination/T6 Complaint Form – Traditional Chinese
Nondiscrimination/T6 Complaint Process - Simplified Chinese
Nondiscrimination/T6 Complaint Form – Simplified Chinese
Nondiscrimination/T6 Complaint Process - Mon Khmer Cambodian
Nondiscrimination/T6 Complaint Form – Mon Khmer Cambodian
State Nondiscrimination Protections
The SMMPO also complies with the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law, M.G.L. c 272 §§ 92a, 98, 98a, prohibiting making any distinction, discrimination, or restriction in admission to or treatment in a place of public accommodation based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or ancestry. Likewise, the SMMPO complies with the Governor’s Executive Order 526, section 4 requiring all programs, activities, and services provided, performed, licensed, chartered, funded, regulated, or contracted for by the state shall be conducted without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, disability, veteran's status (including Vietnam-era veterans), or background.
The SMMPO identifies and addresses disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations. The SMMPO carries out this responsibility by involving minority and low-income individuals in the transportation process and considering their transportation needs in the development and review of the SMMPO’s transportation plans, programs and projects.
The SMMPO ensures early, inclusive, accessible and continuous public participation and input to the planning process for transportation decision-making and continuing opportunities for the public to express their views on transportation issues and to become active participants in the transportation decision-making process of the SMMPO. Our Public Participation Plan (PPP) states “In these public participation efforts, the SMMPO adheres to the principles of Environmental Justice and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act…these efforts will, in no way, exclude persons who are low-income, minority, Limited English Proficient (LEP) or have a disability. The goal of the PPP is to ensure that all persons, regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender, gender identity or expression, disability religion, ancestry or ethnicity, sexual orientation or veteran’s status have an equal opportunity to participate in the SMMPO’s decision-making process.”
View the SMMPO’s Public Participation Plan (PPP).
The SMMPO carries out this responsibility by allowing every person in the region the opportunity to participate in the planning process guiding every issue, project, plan, program or service. Special efforts are made to reach the traditionally underserved, including LEP, minority and low-income persons. In addition to this, the SMMPO has documented a plan to engage populations with limited English proficiency.
View the SMMPO’s Language Access Plan (LAP).
View the SMMPO's updated 2022 Title VI Report. This report was presented to the SMMPO in November 2022, revised in Fall 2023 and endorsed by the SMMPO in January 2024. It examines transportation policies and services provided by the SMMPO and its staff in order to evaluate the SMMPO's compliance with Title VI.
View SRPEDD's interactive map to locate Environmental Justice, Title VI, and households with no access to a vehicle in Southeastern MA communities.
To request additional information regarding Title VI and related federal and state nondiscrimination obligations, please contact:
Andrea Duarte, Transportation Outreach Coordinator
Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District
88 Broadway, Taunton, MA 02780
Phone: 508 824-1367 or dial 711 to use MassRelay
Email: aduarte@srpedd.org
or
Title VI Specialist
MassDOT Office of Diversity and Civil Rights
10 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116
857-368-8580
TTY: 857-368-0603
MASSDOT.CivilRights@state.ma.us