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AGENDA RECOMMENDATION |
Consent Calendar 5.C.
City Council Regular Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 05/26/2026
Agenda Item:
Resolution adopting the Mankato Transit Title VI Plan Update.
Recommendation/Action(s):
Adoption of the attached resolution.
Summary:
Section 601 of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states the following: No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
U.S. Department of Transportation Title VI regulations (49 CFR part 21) integrate into their programs and activities considerations expressed in the Department’s Policy Guidance Concerning Recipients’ Responsibilities to Limited English Proficient (“LEP”) Persons. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Circular 4702.1B outlines Title VI compliance procedures for recipients of FTA-administered transit program funds.
Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons refers to persons for whom English is not their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English. It includes people who reported to the U.S. Census that they speak English less than very well, not well, or not at all.
FTA requires that all direct and primary recipients document their compliance by submitting a Title VI Program to their FTA regional civil rights officer once every three years. The Title VI Program must be approved by the appropriate governing entity or official(s) responsible for policy decisions prior to submission to FTA. Recipients shall submit a copy of the Board resolution, meeting minutes, or similar documentation with the Title VI Program as evidence that the appropriate governing entity has approved the Title VI Program. FTA will review and concur or request the recipient provide additional information.
The plan covers both fixed route and paratransit operations and addresses the following procedures:
U.S. Department of Transportation Title VI regulations (49 CFR part 21) integrate into their programs and activities considerations expressed in the Department’s Policy Guidance Concerning Recipients’ Responsibilities to Limited English Proficient (“LEP”) Persons. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Circular 4702.1B outlines Title VI compliance procedures for recipients of FTA-administered transit program funds.
Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons refers to persons for whom English is not their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English. It includes people who reported to the U.S. Census that they speak English less than very well, not well, or not at all.
FTA requires that all direct and primary recipients document their compliance by submitting a Title VI Program to their FTA regional civil rights officer once every three years. The Title VI Program must be approved by the appropriate governing entity or official(s) responsible for policy decisions prior to submission to FTA. Recipients shall submit a copy of the Board resolution, meeting minutes, or similar documentation with the Title VI Program as evidence that the appropriate governing entity has approved the Title VI Program. FTA will review and concur or request the recipient provide additional information.
The plan covers both fixed route and paratransit operations and addresses the following procedures:
- Notify Beneficiaries of Protection Under Title VI.
- Complaint Procedures and Complaint Form.
- Record and Report Transit Related Title VI Investigations, Complaints, and Lawsuits.
- Promoting Inclusive Public Participation.
- Meaningful Access to Limited English Proficient Persons.
- Fixed Route Service Guidelines.
- Evaluation of Service or Fare Changes.
- Change Class 400 to no standing due to gross weight limitations.
- Add Project Community Connect to fare reductions.
- Add boarding/alighting area verbiage to shelter and bench stop provisions.
- Update Attachment D with current data.
- Modified the wording in the Disproportionate Burden Analysis section to remove mention of “environmental justice”. In 2025, Executive Order 12898 was rescinded to remove the legal basis for environmental justice across federal programs. However, Title VI still requires analysis of the “disproportionate burden on low-income populations”. Content analysis remains the same, the only difference is semantics.