TITLE VI PROGRAM IN COMPLIANCE WITH FTA CIRCULAR 4702.1B January 2017 The Council’s mission is to foster efficient and economic growth for a prosperous metropolitan region. Metropolitan Council Members Adam Duininck Chair Edward Reynoso District 9 Katie Rodriguez District 1 Marie McCarthy District 10 Lona Schreiber District 2 Sandy Rummel District 11 Jennifer Munt District 3 Harry Melander District 12 Deb Barber District 4 Richard Kramer District 13 Steve Elkins District 5 Jon Commers District 14 Gail Dorfman District 6 Steven T. Chávez District 15 Gary L. Cunningham District 7 Wendy Wulff District 16 Cara Letofsky District 8 Page - 2 Metropolitan Council Title VI Program 2017 The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization for the seven-county Twin Cities area. The Council operates the regional bus and rail system, collects and treats wastewater, coordinates regional water resources, plans and helps fund regional parks, and administers federal funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The 17-member Council board is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the governor. This publication printed on recycled paper. On request, this publication will be made available in alternative formats to people with disabilities. Call Metropolitan Council information at 651-602-1140 or TTY 651-291-0904. Page - 4 Metropolitan Council Title VI Program 2017 Contents Definitions .............................................................................................................................................. 4 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Title VI Requirements ......................................................................................................................... 8 Part 1: General Requirements ............................................................................................................. 10 Title VI Notice and Complaint Procedures ........................................................................................ 10 Complaint Procedures .................................................................................................................. 11 Title VI Investigations, Complaints, and Lawsuits ............................................................................. 12 Metro Transit Regular Service Outreach Activities ........................................................................ 14 Project-Specific Outreach Activities .............................................................................................. 14 Minority Representation on Planning and Advisory Bodies ............................................................... 25 Encouraging Minority Participation ................................................................................................ 32 Subrecipient Monitoring .................................................................................................................... 32 Facility Siting .................................................................................................................................... 33 Southwest LRT Operations and Maintenance Facility ................................................................... 34 METRO Blue Line Extension Operations and Maintenance Facility .............................................. 35 Heywood Campus Expansion ....................................................................................................... 37 Part 2: Fixed Route Transit Provider Requirements ............................................................................. 39 Service Area Demographics ............................................................................................................. 39 Customer Demographics and Travel Patterns .................................................................................. 48 2014 Rider Survey ........................................................................................................................ 48 2010 Travel Behavior Inventory .................................................................................................... 53 Service and Fare Change Evaluations ............................................................................................. 56 Metro Transit Service and Fare Change Policies .......................................................................... 56 Evaluation Methodology................................................................................................................ 58 Recent Equity Evaluation Results ................................................................................................. 59 System-Wide Service Standards and Policies .................................................................................. 64 Vehicle Load ................................................................................................................................. 65 Service Frequency ........................................................................................................................ 66 On-Time Performance .................................................................................................................. 67 Service Availability ........................................................................................................................ 67 Distribution of Amenities ............................................................................................................... 69 Vehicle Assignment ...................................................................................................................... 71 Service Monitoring Evaluation .......................................................................................................... 73 Additional Analysis of Potential Disparate Impacts ........................................................................ 74 Part 3: MPO Requirements .................................................................................................................. 75 Service Area Demographics ............................................................................................................. 75 Incorporation of Title VI Principles in Regional Planning ................................................................... 76 Distribution of State and Federal Funds ........................................................................................... 77 Results ......................................................................................................................................... 77 Distribution of FTA Funds to Subrecipients ...................................................................................... 78 Page - 2 Metropolitan Council Title VI Program 2017 List of Figures Figure 1: METRO Blue Line Extension Alignment and Stations ........................................................... 15 Figure 2: SWLRT Alignment and Stations ............................................................................................ 34 Figure 3: Blue Line LRT Alignment and Stations .................................................................................. 36 Figure 4: Minority Population in the Metro Transit Service Area ........................................................... 40 Figure 5: Minority Population and Recently Constructed/Improved and Planned Facilities ................... 42 Figure 6: Census Block Groups with Minority Population Greater than the Service Area Average ....... 41 Figure 7: Low-Income Population in the Metro Transit Service Area .................................................... 44 Figure 8: Low-Income Population and Recently Constructed/Improved and Planned Facilities ............ 45 Figure 9: Census Block Groups with Low-Income Population Greater than the Service Area Average 45 Figure 10: Bus Rider Snapshot ............................................................................................................ 49 Figure 11: Light Rail Rider Snapshot ................................................................................................... 50 Figure 12: Northstar Rider Snapshot .................................................................................................... 51 Figure 13: Comparing Riders to Census .............................................................................................. 52 Figure 14: Blocks Walked to Access Transit by Minority/Non-Minority ................................................. 55 Figure 15: Change in Existing Level of Service – West End and Route 9 Transit Study ....................... 61 Figure 16: Change in Existing Level of Service – Service Improvement Plan ....................................... 63 Figure 17: Minority Population Density in the Metropolitan Council Service Area ................................. 75 Figure 18: TPP Location Analysis ........................................................................................................ 76 Appendices Appendix A: Title VI Notices Appendix B: Title VI Complaint Form Appendix C: Public Participation Plan Appendix D: Language Assistance Plan Appendix E: 2012 Rider Survey Executive Summary Appendix F: Minutes Noting Metropolitan Council Approval of Title VI Policies Appendix G: Minutes Noting Metropolitan Council Approval of Service and Fare Change Evaluations Appendix H: Minutes Noting Metropolitan