CATS Complaint Process

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CAPITAL AREA TRANSIT SYSTEM COMPLAINT PROCESS 

Any person who believes she or he has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, or national origin by the Capital Area Transit System (CATS) may file an ADA complaint by completing and submitting the CATS ADA Complaint Form. CATS investigates complaints received no more than 180 days after the alleged incident. CATS will process complaints that are complete.

Once the complaint is received, CATS will review it to determine if our office has jurisdiction. The complainant will receive an acknowledgement letter informing her/him whether the complaint will be investigated by our office.

CATS has 14 days to investigate the complaint. If more information is needed to resolve the case, CATS may contact the complainant. The complainant has 14 days from the date of the letter to send requested information to the investigator assigned to the case.  If the investigator is not contacted by the complainant or does not receive the additional information within 14 days, CATS can administratively close the case. A case can be administratively closed also if the complainant no longer wishes to pursue their case.

After the investigator reviews the complaint, she/he will issue one of two letters to the complainant: a closure letter or a Letter of Finding (LOF). A closure letter summarizes the allegations and states that there was not an ADA violation and that the case will be closed. An LOF summarizes the allegations and the interviews regarding the alleged incident, and explains whether any disciplinary action, additional training of the staff member, or other action will occur. If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision, she/he has 30 days after the date of the letter or the LOF to do so.

For more information on the appeal process, please call the CATS Compliance Officer at 225.346.5544.

A person may also file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration, at FTA

Office of Civil Rights, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

 

You can file an electronic complaint here

If you prefer to print and mail a formal complaint, you may fill out the CATS ADA Complaint Form. Note that mailed complaints will not be accepted without a signature.

The Capital Area Transit System Complaint Procedure can be reviewed as a Word document as well.

 

Non Discrimination Policy Statement

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities, Title VI states that “no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, or disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination” under any Capital Area Transit System (CATS) sponsored program or activity. There is no distinction between the sources of funding.

CATS also assures that every effort will be made to prevent discrimination through the impacts of its programs, policies and activities on minority and low-income populations. Furthermore, CATS will take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to services for persons with limited English proficiency (LEP).

When CATS distributes Federal aid funds to another entity/person, CATS will ensure all subrecipients fully comply with CATS ADA Nondiscrimination Program requirements. CATS has delegated the authority to Rhonda M. Williams, Title ADA Program Coordinator, to oversee and implement FTA ADA/Title VI requirements.