HomeMy WebLinkAboutBID - 7332 MAX BRT PROJECT (6)Language Access Plan
Planning, Development & Transportation Mission Statement:
The success of PDT is built on the skills and efforts of a talented,
dedicated and professional work force. We strive to be seen as
creative problem solvers, who seek collaborative outcomes with
stakeholders, citizens, boards and commissions.
Transfort / Dial A Ride Vision:
We are the first choice for transportation in our greater community.
Transfort / Dial A Ride Mission:
We provide exceptional, customer-focused service that meets our
community’s present and future transit needs.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction........................................................................................................3
1.1 Executive Order 13166................................................................................ 3
2. Four Factor Analysis......................................................................................... 3
2.1 The number or Proportion of LEP Persons Served or Encountered in the
Eligible Service Population................................................................................ 3
Figure 1- Top Non-English Languages Spoken in the Transfort Service Area.. 4
2.2 Frequency with which LEP individuals come in contact with the program...4
2.3 The Nature and Importance of the Program, Activity, or Service provided
by the program...................................................................................................4
2.4 Resources Available to the recipient and costs........................................... 5
3. Limited English Proficiency Implementation Guidance......................................6
3.1 Identify LEP Individuals Who Need Language Assistance.......................... 6
3.2 Identify Language Assistance Measures..................................................... 6
4. Monitoring and Updating Language Access Plan............................................. 6
1. Introduction
The purpose of this limited English proficiency policy guidance is to clarify the
responsibilities of recipients of federal financial assistance from the U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT) and assist them in fulfilling their
responsibilities to limited English proficient (LEP) persons, according to Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and implementing regulations. It was prepared in
accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d, et seq.,
and its implementing regulations provide that no person shall be subject to
discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin under any program or
activity that receives federal financial assistance.
1.1 Executive Order 13166
Executive Order 13166 “Improving Access to Services for Persons With Limited
English Proficiency,'' reprinted at 65 FR 50121 (August 16, 2000), directs each
Federal agency that is subject to the requirements of Title VI to publish guidance
for its respective recipients clarifying that obligation. Executive Order 13166
further directs that all such guidance documents be consistent with the
compliance standards and framework detailed in the Department of Justice's
(DOJ's) Policy Guidance entitled “Enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964--National Origin Discrimination Against Persons With Limited English
Proficiency.'' (See 65 FR 50123, August 16, 2000 DOJ's General LEP Guidance).
Different treatment based upon a person’s inability to speak, read, write, or
understand English may be a type of national origin discrimination.
Executive Order 13166 applies to all federal agencies and all programs and
operations of entities that receive funding from the federal government, including
state agencies, local agencies such as the City of Fort Collins, Transfort , private
and non-profit entities, and subrecipients (City of Loveland Transit (COLT),
Berthoud Area Transit (BAT), and Larimer Countuy.)
2. Four Factor Analysis
2.1 The number or Proportion of LEP Persons Served or Encountered in
the Eligible Service Population
The 2000 Decennial Census was used as the primary base data for this analysis
(none of the areas serviced by Transfort were included in any of the Bureau’s
American Community Surveys). According to the Census 9.9% of Fort Collins
residents reported speaking a language other than English in the home. This
equates to approximately 12,800 residents speaking a language other than
English in their home. Furthermore, 3.1% of residents, or 3,408 residents,
reported speaking English less than “very well”. As indicated in Figure 1 the
primary non-English language spoken in the Fort Collins Community is Spanish.
Figure 1- Top Non-English Languages Spoken in the Transfort Service Area
Language Number Reported % of Total Non-English
Languages Spoken at Home
Spanish 5,934 50%
Other Indo-European 2,804 26%
Asian and Pacific Island 1,576 14%
All other languages 664 10%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000
Percentages: Age by languages spoken at home for population 5 years and over. Language classifications used in the
table are defined by the source document.
2.2 Frequency with which LEP individuals come in contact with the
program
In the past, Transfort has not had a formal process to document the frequency of
contact by LEP persons with its services; however, we are in the process of
developing procedures to expand the analyses of available data to estimate the
frequency of contact. These procedures will be communicated to each
department within Transfort to ensure consistency in the data collection process.
Transfort has reviewed the relevant programs, services, and information
provided by the agency to determine the extent to which LEP persons have
come into contact with these functions. The following channels were used to
determine the frequency of contact with LEP persons:
Calls to Transfort’s customer service and reservation lines
Survey information from Bus Operators
Website requests
In February 2010 Transfort conducted a survey of its bus operators and front line
customer service representatives to determine frequency of contact with LEP
persons. The results indicate that approximately five percent of customers at the
Downtown Transit Center do not speak English very well, or not at all. Of this
five percent almost all interactions were with someone that did speak Spanish.
Frontline staff at this transit center speaks Spanish. Three percent of customers
at the Colorado State University Transit Center did not speak English very well,
or at all. Of this three percent, 75 percent did speak Spanish. There have been
three calls to customer service lines and reservations lines since they have been
tracked.
2.3 The Nature and Importance of the Program, Activity, or Service
provided by the program
Public transit is a key means of mobility for persons with limited English
proficiency. Nationally, according to the 2000 Census data, more than 11% of
LEP persons 16 years or older use public transit as primary means of
transportation to work. This can be compared with about 4% of English speakers
that use public transit as a primary means of transportation to work.
Transfort does provide the following bilingual (English/Spanish) services:
Bilingual (English/Spanish) bus schedules (also available in Braille
and audio versions).
Bilingual (English/Spanish) public meeting announcements in local
print media.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) meeting materials (i.e. comment sheets,
informational materials etc.)
Website is translatable to 42 different languages using Google
Toolbar translator.
Spanish translator provided at public meetings.
Spanish speaking employees at both transit centers.
Transfort staff is continuing to assess and identify, on an ongoing basis, which
programs will need enhanced language services to the LEP population. These
programs include, but are not limited to ones related to fares, bus schedules,
Dial-A-Ride information, service disruptions or changes, emergency information,
safety and security information.
2.4 Resources Available to the recipient and costs
Transfort is committed to providing the resources to reduce the barriers
encountered by LEP persons in accessing its services. While Transfort does not
break down all cost expenditures related to providing language assistance, these
expenditures will be monitored in the future as part of the Language Assistance
Plan.
Transfort is taking the following steps to implement Guidance to conduct Four
Factor Analysis:
Creating an inventory and central repository of language assistance
measures currently being provided.
Determining what additional services are needed to provide meaningful
access.
Utilizing cost-effective practices, such as the following for providing
language services:
o Employee translators and interpreters will be identified through a
language survey
o Research agreements with various community organizations to
secure qualified community volunteers for translation and
interpreter services
3. Limited English Proficiency Implementation Guidance
3.1 Identify LEP Individuals Who Need Language Assistance
Transfort staff will use “I speak cards” to invite LEP persons to identify his
or her language needs at public meetings and hearings.
Transfort staff will keep a record of contact with LEP persons to assist in
future LEP access planning.
Survey transit operators and other front line staff on an annual basis at the
beginning of each fiscal year regarding their experience on having direct
or indirect contact with LEP individuals.
3.2 Identify Language Assistance Measures
Transfort staff will work directly with the Spanish-speaking media to
provide Transit information to their readers.
Transfort’s LEP policy statement, Title VI complaint forms and procedures
are posted in English and Spanish on Transfort’s Website:
www.fcgov.com/transfort
Transfort’s internal bilingual capabilities have increased by identifying and
utilizing bilingual employees to provide oral and written language
assistance, as needed. These employees were identified in the Employee
Language Survey and Bus Operator Language Survey.
Website is translatable to 42 different languages using Google Toolbar
translator.
Pictographs or other symbols are used throughout the Transfort system to
convey messages on how to use Transfort and Transfort safety
information. For example, the universally-recognized circle with a red line
through it is used to designate no-smoking areas, no food allowed on
buses, etc.
Community meetings and outreach activities offer the availability of
translated documents
4. Monitoring and Updating Language Access Plan
Transfort views the provision of language access services to its LEP customers
as being one of providing access to quality and equitable transit service. With
respect to its language access plan, Transfort recognizes that ongoing
monitoring and evaluation are essential to meeting the challenges inherent in
effectively working with the LEP population. To this end, Transfort will, on an
annual basis, review, and as necessary update the Language Access Plan. The
following areas will be monitored annually to determine if updates are necessary:
Current LEP populations in the service area or population affected or
encountered
o This will be tracked using the most current Census data
Frequency of encounters with LEP language groups
o This will be tracked for Customer Service and Dispatch Staff
o Annual surveys will be distributed to operators to determine the
frequency of contact in service
Nature and importance of activities to LEP persons
o This will be determined working with various local partners and
liaisons of the LEP persons (community groups, Poudre School
District, Colorado State University)
Availability of resources, including technological advances and sources of
additional resources as well as the costs imposed
Whether existing service assistances is meeting needs of LEP customers
o This will be determined working with various local partners and
liaisons of the LEP persons (community groups, Poudre School
District, Colorado State University)
Whether staff knows and understands the LAP plan and how to implement
the various aspects that pertain to their role
o This will be assessed by survey of bus operators, and will be
integrated into training for new operators.