Potomac Valley Transit Authority Title VI Procedures

Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act requires that “No person in the United States shall, on the grounds 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.”

Any person who believes that he/she has been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice on the basis of race, color or national origin by the Potomac Valley Transit Authority may file a complaint by completing and submitting the Potomac Valley Transit Authority Title VI Complaint form.

How do you file a complaint?

Complete, sign and return the Potomac Valley Transit Authority Title VI Complaint Form. You may obtain the form by clicking here, filling in the information on the screen, then returning the signed form by fax or mail. You may also request a form by writing to Potomac Valley Transit Authority, 185 Providence Lane, Petersburg, WV  26847 or by calling (304) 257-1414.

You may file a signed, dated and written complaint no more than 180 days to the date of the alleged incident.  The complaint should include:

  • Your name, address and telephone number.  (See Question 1of the Complaint Form)
  • How, why, and when you believe you were discriminated against.  Include as much specific, detailed information as possible about the alleged acts of discrimination and any other relevant information.  (See Questions 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the complaint Form)
  • The names of any persons, if known, whom the Title VI Officer could contact for clarity of your allegations.  (See Question 11 of the Complaint Form)

Please submit your complaint form to address listed below:

Title VI Coordinator
Potomac Valley Transit Authority
185 Providence Lane
Petersburg, WV  26847

How will your complaint be handled?

The Potomac Valley Transit Authority investigates complaints received no more than 180 days after the alleged incident.  The Potomac Valley Transit Authority will process complaints that are complete.  Once a completed complaint is received, the Potomac Valley Transit Authority will review it to determine if the Potomac Valley Transit Authority has jurisdiction.  The complainant will receive an acknowledgement letter informing her/him whether the complaint will be investigated by the Potomac Valley Transit Authority.

The Potomac Valley Transit Authority will generally complete an investigation within 90 days from receipt of a completed complaint form.  If more information is needed to resolve the case, the Potomac Valley Transit Authority may contact the complainant.  Unless a longer period is specified by the Potomac Valley Transit Authority, the complainant will have ten (10) days from the date of the letter to send requested information to the Potomac Valley Transit Authority investigator assigned to the case.

If the Potomac Valley Transit Authority investigator is not contacted by the complainant or does not receive additional information within the required timeline, the Potomac Valley Transit Authority may administratively close the case.  A case may be administratively closed also if the complainant no longer wishes to pursue their case.

After an investigation is complete, the Potomac Valley Transit Authority will issue a letter to the complainant summarizing the results of the investigation, stating the findings and advising of any corrective action to be taken as a result of the investigation.  If a complainant disagrees with the Potomac Valley Transit Authority’s determination, he/she may request reconsideration by submitting a request in writing to the Potomac Valley Transit Authority General Manager within seven (7) days after the date of the Potomac Valley Transit Authority letter, stating with specificity the basis the reconsideration.  The General Manager will notify the complainant of his decision either to accept or reject the request for reconsideration within 10 days.  In cases where reconsideration is granted, the General Manager will issue a determination letter to the complainant upon completion of the reconsideration review.

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.

For more information on our nondiscrimination obligations or if information is needed in another language, then contact the Potomac Valley Transit Authority at (304) 257-1414.