Title VI Program
The Miami-Dade TPO has set a policy that assures that no person shall on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, family, or religious status, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination or retaliation under any program or activity. The following information supports the Miami-Dade TPO’s Title VI Program:
- Title VI Policy Assurance Statement
- Title VI/Nondiscrimination Complaint Procedures
- Limited English Proficiency Plan (LEP)
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice (EJ), at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), means identifying and addressing disproportionately high and adverse effects of the agency's programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations to achieve an equitable distribution of benefits and burdens.
EJ is important because it helps to ensure full and fair participation by potentially affected communities in every phase of the transportation decision-making process. When this is accomplished, the development, construction, operation and maintenance of transportation projects should reflect an equitable distribution of benefits and burdens.
Equity in Transportation
Equity in transportation seeks fairness in mobility and accessibility to meet the needs of all community members. A central goal of transportation is to facilitate social and economic opportunities by providing equitable levels of access to affordable and reliable transportation options based on the needs of the populations being served, particularly populations that are traditionally underserved. Under Executive Order 13985 Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities (2021), the term “equity” means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment.
An equitable transportation plan considers the circumstances impacting a community’s mobility and connectivity needs, and this information is used to determine the measures needed to develop an equitable transportation network. To attain an equitable transportation network, all components of Title VI, EJ, and Nondiscrimination must be considered. USDOT and modal administration regulations and guidance outline specific program requirements as well as best practices for achieving more equitable outcomes. Considering equity early and often through methods such as public participation and data collection and analysis improves the planning process’s ability to adequately respond to the needs of the community it serves. It may also improve project delivery by preventing costly and time-consuming delays that could arise from previously unrecognized conflicts as projects move from planning into implementation.
Major Documents in Miami-Dade County Libraries
To ensure equal accessibility opportunities for major planning documents, the Miami-Dade TPO partners with the Miami-Dade County Library System. Applicable documents are cataloged within the 50 area libraries as well as on the library systems’ website.
History of Title VI Program
In 2001, the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) (then called the Metropolitan Planning Organization) received a corrective action from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) concerning the TPO’s Title VI Program during the federal certification process. In response, the TPO staff developed a “Title VI Action Plan Report” that was approved by the Governing Board on January 31, 2002.
This action plan was developed to include documentation to support programs and practices already in place, and proposed actions to comply with federal regulations. To demonstrate their commitment to addressing this corrective action, TPO staff followed up with a “Title VI Action Plan Quarterly Report” later in 2002. Then during their 2004 federal certification process,
TPO staff provided a one year report regarding their Title VI Program. This document was recognized as being in compliance with federal regulations. From this point forward, the Title VI Report was updated to be in synch with federal certification processes, which was recognized as being in compliance in 2007, 2010, and 2014. Moving forward, the Title VI Report has been renamed the “Title VI Activities Report” showcasing programs and activities the TPO staff has executed to ensure inclusivity for all Miami-Dade County citizens.