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Title VI

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA)  is updating its Title VI Program, including its Service & Fare Equity (SAFE) analysis policies. Below, for your review, is the proposed policy with any updated language marked in red. There is also PowerPoint presentation which provides an overview of  RIPTA’s Title VI program and SAFE policies.

In summary: The goal of the update is to be more specific about when service changes rise to the level of requiring a Title VI review.  Title VI provisions help ensure that any service changes do not unfairly impact low-income populations or groups identified by race, color, or national origin.  In the updated policy, RIPTA is now clarifying and giving examples of the formulas it uses to calculate when a service change is ‘major,’ and therefore subject to a Title VI review.

In the section on determining whether a service change might create a disproportionate burden on low-income residents, RIPTA has added a table listing routes in our system that have a high percentage of low-income riders.  We had previously provided a similar table in the section pertaining to minority populations, and we continue to include that as well.

Also, please note that for the purposes of our Title VI policy, the definition of “low income” has not changed:  It is  a person whose median household income is at or below the U.S.  Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) poverty guidelines. The current HHS guidelines can be found here at https://bit.ly/37oEleF.

*Link: Current Policies and Proposed Revisions 

Link: Title VI and SAFE Analysis Policy Update Presentation” 

Please share your comments and questions no later than January 4, 2021. All comments and questions should be directed to ComplianceOfficer@ripta.com.  

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