City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: YON LAMBERT, INTERIM DEPUTY CITY MANAGER & DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Adopt an Updated Title VI (Civil Rights) Program for the Federal Highway Administration. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Should the City adopt an updated Title VI program to specific Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidelines? The City adopted its current Title VI program in April 2022 for submission to the Federal Transit Administration. Updated language, requested by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), would ensure the City’s program complies with FHWA regulations.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council adopt the FHWA Title VI Program to comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) Title VI regulations (49 CFR Part 5 21).
BACKGROUND: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other directives prohibit agencies and sub-recipients receiving federal assistance from discriminating against anyone or any group in the United States on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or low income.
The City of Alexandria receives federal transportation funds, which are currently used for planning, designing and construction of various transportation projects. As a sub-recipient of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the City is required to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, as well as other nondiscrimination laws and authorities, including without limitation those listed directly or by reference in the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) and FHWA Master Agreements, as they may be amended or promulgated.
Under Federal guidelines, a Title VI Program must be approved by the City Council and submitted to the primary recipient. City Council adopted an FTA Title VI program for FTA in 2010 and made subsequent updates in 2013, 2016, and 2019, as the City is required to re-adopt every three years. In April 2022, City Council adopted an expanded FTA Title VI Program as part of the process necessary to receive direct FTA funding.
This summer, VDOT asked the City to have a Title VI Program that explicitly references FHWA.
DISCUSSION: The FHWA Title VI Program specifies public outreach efforts that must be done and social equity issues that must be considered when using federal transportation funds managed by FHWA. The FHWA Program requires non-substantive changes to the FTA Program to allow a focus on the City of Alexandria and not the Alexandria Transit Company.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact regarding implementing an FHWA Title VI program as the Title VI Program directives are a required mandate from the DOT, and its requirements are similarly covered under previously approved sub-recipient Title VI programs and the most recent FTA Title VI program.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - Title VI Program Packet
Attachment 2 - Resolution
STAFF:
Jean Kelleher, Director, Office of Human Rights
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director of Transportation, T&ES
Christopher Ziemann, Division Chief of Transportation Planning, T&ES
Jen Monaco, Principal Planner, T&ES