Title VI Program

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Additional Nondiscrimination Requirements

​Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibits discrimination based upon race, color, and national origin. Specifically, 42 USC 2000d states that "No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

The use of the word "person" is important as the protections afforded under Title VI apply to anyone, regardless of whether the individual is lawfully present in the United States or a citizen of a State within the United States. In addition to Title VI, there are other nondiscrimination statutes that afford legal protection. These statutes include the following: Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (race, color, religious creed and national origin), Section 162 (a) of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 (23 USC 324) (sex), Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (age), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973/Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (disability). Taken together, these requirements define an overarching Title VI/Nondiscrimination Program. As a recipient of federal financial assistance, PennDOT must comply with Title VI and the additional nondiscrimination requirements. It is important to also understand that these nondiscrimination requirements are applicable to all PennDOT programs, whether they are receiving federal financial assistance or not.

PennDOT's Title VI Notice to the Public

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (Department) hereby gives notice that it is the policy of the Department to assure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, E.O. 12898, and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Title VI requires that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity administered by the Department.

Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by a discriminatory practice under Title VI has a right to file a formal complaint with the Department. Any such complaint must be in writing and filed with the Department's Title VI Coordinator within one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the alleged discriminatory occurrence. A Title VI Discrimination Complaint Form can be obtained from the Bureau of Equal Opportunity by dialing 717.787.5891 or by linking to PA DOT Discrimination Complaint Form.

If you speak another language, language assistance is available by calling 717.787.5891.

What Additional Types of Discrimination are Prohibited?

As noted above, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 originally banned discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. PennDOT's Title VI Program includes other federal and Commonwealth nondiscrimination authorities which prohibit discrimination based on age, sex, religious creed, disability, limited English proficiency and low-income. 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

PennDOT does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities and has established a grievance procedure to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 28 CFR 35.149 Discrimination prohibited. “Except as otherwise provided in 35.150, no qualified individual with a disability shall, because a public entity’s facilities are inaccessible to or unusable by individuals with disabilities, be excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of the services, programs or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any public entity.”

Does Title VI Apply to All Department of Transportation Activities and Programs?

Yes. The ban on discrimination includes any PennDOT program or activity as well as those provided by our municipal partners and organizations receiving funding through PennDOT.

For further information on Title VI Programs or to make a complaint, you can contact the Bureau of Equal Opportunity located on the fifth floor of the Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg PA., by telephone at 717.787.5891.