Florida Law Prohibits Discrimination in:

Public accommodations based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or marital status.  Further, JTrans is committed to providing non-discriminatory and accessible transportation to persons with disabilities and the transportation disadvantaged.  Persons discriminated against on these conditions may file a complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations at 850-488-7082 or 800-342-8170 (voice messaging).

Title VI/ADA/Transportation Disadvantaged Complaint Procedure

Consistent with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (TD), the Agency has designated an individual as the Title VI/ADA/TD Coordinator. The Coordinator is responsible for accepting complaints of discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion and family status in the provision of services, activities, programs, or benefits provided by the Agency.

Complaints shall be submitted in writing within the following time frames:

· Title VI: No later than 180 days from the date of alleged discrimination based on race, color, religion, family status, sex, age, or national origin.

· ADA: No later than 60 days from the date of the alleged discrimination of a qualified disabled individual shall, soley by reason of such disability, be excluded/denied transportation services by JTrans.

· TD: No later than 60 days from the date of the alleged discrimination of a qualified individual soley on the denial of transportation disadvantaged program services.

Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against by JTrans may file a Title VI, ADA or TD complaint by completing and submitting the agency’s Title VI/ADA/TD Complaint Form (Follow the link below).

JTrans investigates complaints received no more than 180 days after the alleged incident for Title VI and nor more than 60 days after the alleged incident for ADA/TD. JTrans will process complaints that are complete.

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

JTrans has ninety (90) days to investigate the complaint. If more information is needed to resolve the case, JTrans may contact the complainant. The complainant has ten (10) business days from the date of the letter to send the 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 ten (10) business days, JTrans can administratively close the case. A case can also be administratively closed if the complainant no longer wishes to pursue their case.

After the investigator reviews the complaint, she/he will issue one of the 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 a Title VI violation and that the case will be closed. A 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 seven (7) days to do so from the time he/she receives the closure letter or the LOF.

Click here to download the Complaint form.

Service Animal Policy

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all transit passengers will be permitted to travel with a service animal trained to assist them. ADA regulations at 49 C.F.R. Section 37.3 define a service animal as “any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.”

Please notify JTrans in advance if you intend to bring a service animal with you.

Animals that are not trained to do work or perform tasks are not considered to be service animals (49 C.F.R. Section 37.167(d). For example, emotional support animals, which provide emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship to an individual with disabilities, but are not trained to do work or perform tasks, are not considered to be service animals.

If you are planning on riding on JTrans with a service animal, please follow these guidelines:

· Service animals are to be properly leashed and/or harnessed and under the control of their handlers at all times.

     · The service animal must remain at your feet or on your lap. The service animal may not sit on a vehicle seat.

     · The service animal must not be aggressive toward people or other animals.

     · You are responsible for any damages or soiling caused by the service animal.

     · The rider may be asked to remove his/her service animal from the vehicle if:

          o The animal is out of control and the rider does not take effective action to control it.

          o The animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.

     · You are responsible for the care and supervision of your service animal while on board the vehicle.

Reasonable Modification Policy

The Department of Transportation has revised its rules under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It now specifically provides that transportation agencies are required to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices and procedures to avoid discrimination and ensure that their programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

JTrans is committed to providing safe, reliable, efficient, and accessible service to its customers. To ensure equality and fairness, JTrans will make reasonable modifications to policies and procedures to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to all of its services.

Exceptions would include modifications that:

• Cause a direct threat to the health and/or safety of others;
• Result in a fundamental alteration of the nature of the service;
• Are not necessary in order for the individual with a disability to fully utilize JTrans services

Anyone who would like to request a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a JTrans program or service should contact:

Sharon Peeler
Executive Director
JTrans
3988 Old Cottondale Road
P.O. Box 1117
850-482-7433
speeler.jtrans@gmail.com

Click here to download the Reasonable Modification Policy form.