Transportation Program:

Transportation services provided through The Arc Tampa Bay’s Transportation Program are available to individuals who are presently receiving services from one of The Arc Tampa Bay’s numerous programs. The Arc Tampa Bay serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities from the Tampa Bay area. Transportation is an adjunct service and the agency’s transportation program operates primarily in the northern and central areas of Pinellas County, Florida.

We provide a range of trip purposes that include: medical, nutrition, shopping, social service, educational, employment, social and recreational. Currently, we use a variety of vehicles to provide passenger services. Our fleet includes vans, modified vans, cars, trucks and freightliners (warehouse). Eleven of our vehicles are equipped for wheelchair service. Our fleet of vehicles is maintained by a variety of local garages equipped to perform required inspections and needed repairs. We presently have 35 vehicles for passenger transport. Funding obtained through the Federal Transit Authority with local oversight by the Florida Department of Transportation has been instrumental in ensuring that our fleet stays up-to-date and that vehicles reaching their “useful life” can be retired from the fleet.

The Arc Tampa Bay Transportation Program assures the Florida Department of Transportation that no person shall on the basis of race, color, national origin, 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 undertaken by the agency.

Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color or national origin by The Arc Tampa Bay Transportation Program may file a Title VI complaint by completing and submitting The Arc Tampa Bay’s Title VI Complaint Form (link). The Arc Tampa Bay investigates complaints received no more than 180 days after the alleged incident. The Arc Tampa Bay will process complaints that are complete.

Once the complaint is received, The Arc Tampa Bay will review it to determine if FDOT has jurisdiction over the complaint or not. The complainant will receive an acknowledgement letter informing him/her whether the complaint will be investigated by FDOT.

The Arc Tampa Bay has ninety (90) days to investigate the complaint. If more information is needed to resolve the case, The Arc Tampa Bay may contact the complainant. The complainant has ten (10) business days from the date of the letter to send 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, The Arc Tampa Bay 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, he/she will issue one of two (2) 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 staff training of the staff member or other action will occur. If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision, he/she has seven (7) days to do so from the time he/she receives the closure letter or the LOF.

Transportation Title VI Grievance Process