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LEARN ABOUT NON-DISCRIMINATION AT MET TRANSIT
Statement of EEO Policy
The City of Billings MET Transit Division has a strong commitment to the community we serve and our employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to have a workforce that reflects the community. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.
The City of Billings MET Transit Division Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to: recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, discipline, termination, rates of pay and other forms of compensation.
All applicants and employees have the right to file complaints alleging discrimination. Retaliation against an individual who files a charge or complaint of discrimination, participates in an employment discrimination proceeding (such as an investigation or lawsuit), or otherwise engages in protected activity is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated. If you believe you have experienced discrimination based upon protected EEO categories or rights, you may complete a complaint form or contact the EEO Coordination, EEO Department Specialist, Department/Division Management, or Human Resources
MET Transit is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees who need them because of a disability or to practice or observe their religion, absent undue hardship.
While the City of Billings City Administrator retains overall responsibility and accountability for compliance with the City of Billings EEO Policy and Program, the Aviation and Transit Director directly ensures compliance with MET Transit Division specific policies within the Department. To ensure day-to-day management, including program preparation, monitoring, and complaint investigation, the City has appointed Karla Stanton, Human Resources Director (stantonk@billingsmt.gov) as the EEO Coordinator for overall City of Billings Operations and reports directly to the City Administrator and will act with authority to ensure proper program implementation and execution. Within the Aviation and Transit Department, Sarah Graham, Planning and Development Coordinator (grahams@billingsmt.gov) will serve as MET Transit’s EEO Department Specialist. Sarah reports directly to the Aviation and Transit Director for EEO related matters. All MET Transit executives, management, and supervisory personnel, share in the responsibility for implementing and monitoring the EEO Policy and Program within their respective areas and will be assigned specific tasks to ensure compliance is achieved. MET Transit will evaluate its managers’ and supervisors’ performance on their successful implementation of the policies and procedures, in the same way MET Transit assesses their performance regarding other agency goals.
The City of Billings and MET Transit are committed to undertaking and developing a written nondiscrimination program that sets forth the policies, practices and procedures to which the agency is committed and make the EEO Program available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment upon request.
The City of Billings and Aviation and Transit Administration are committed to a workplace that acts upon its daily responsibility to treat all applicants and employees with dignity and respect, as well as equitably under the guidelines of the EEO Policy and Program.
Section 504 (ADA) Compliance
Reasonable Modification Policy
In accordance with ADA regulations, it is the policy of the City of Billings MET Transit to provide individuals with disabilities with a reasonable modification to its policies, practices, and procedures so that they can access MET's programs, facilities and services.
What is a reasonable modification?
A reasonable modification is a change or exception to a policy, practice, or procedure which allows people with disabilities to have equal access to programs, services and activities. Reasonable modifications must always be related to the individual’s disability.
What is the process for requests?
Whenever possible, requests for reasonable modifications shall be made and determined in advance. An advance request for reasonable modification can be sent to:
City of Billings MET Transit
ATTN: ADA/Section 504 Coordinator
1705 Monad Road, Billings, Montana, 59101
Telephone: 406-657-8218
Email: mettransit@billingsmt.gov
The request shall include:
- Your contact information;
- A description of what you need in order to use a MET Transit service; and
- What changes or modifications you believe would be necessary to provide you full access to
MET Transit’s services.
MET Transit will use its best efforts to make a response as soon as practical. In some instances, additional information will be necessary to process the request. Please ensure your contact information is included with your request.
What is the process for making on the spot requests?
MET Transit understands it may not be possible for a reasonable modification request to be made and determined in advance. In these instances, please request a reasonable modification with a MET Transit operator at the time of issue. A response to an on the spot request will be made at the time of the request. Responses to on the spot requests can include: granting the request, denying the request, or referring the passenger to MET Transit management for further processing. Operators will generally seek assistance from MET Transit management during these instances via the two-way radio.
For what reasons may MET Transit deny a reasonable modification request?
MET Transit may deny a reasonable modification request, whether made in advance or on the spot, for the following reasons:
- Granting the request would fundamentally alter the nature of MET Transit’s services, programs or activities;
- Granting the request would create a direct threat to the health or safety of others;
- The individual with a disability is able to fully use the entity’s services, programs, or activities for their intended purpose without the need of a modification; and/or
- Granting the request would cause MET Transit undue financial or administrative burden.
If a request is denied, MET Transit will take action to the maximum extent possible to ensure the individual receives MET Transit’s services or benefits.
What are examples of reasonable modifications MET Transit generally will grant?
MET Transit will generally grant the following reasonable modification requests for individuals with disabilities:
- A request from a passenger whom has diabetes (or another medical condition) to eat or drink aboard a vehicle in order to avoid adverse health consequences so long as the drink is in a spill proof container and the food is a small snack that cannot cause any spills;
- A request for transit personnel to handle fare media when the passenger with a disability cannot pay the fare by the generally established means; for instance, when the passenger cannot reach or insert a fare into the fare box themselves;
- A request from a wheelchair user to board a vehicle separately from his or her device (if the individual is capable of doing so) when the occupied weight of the device exceeds the design load of the vehicle lift.
This list of examples is neither exhaustive nor exclusive. Passengers with disabilities are encouraged to contact MET Transit with specific reasonable modification requests.
All information is available in accessible formats upon request; please contact MET for assistance.
ADA Complaint Procedure
The following procedures apply to the MET Transit Division of the Aviation and Transit Department of the City of Billings, Montana.
Right to File a Complaint
Any person who has a complaint about the accessibility of our transit system or believes discrimination has occurred on the basis of disability by MET Transit may file a written complaint detailing the accessibility issue or incident. All alleged discrimination complaints must be received within 180 days of the incident in question.
Please provide all facts and circumstances surrounding the issue or accessibility complaint so the issue may be fully investigated.
How to File a Complaint
You may obtain a copy of the City of Billings MET Transit ADA/Section 504 Complaint form by writing, MET Transit, ATTN ADA/Section 504 Coordinator, 1705 Monad Road, Billings, MT 59102.
Alternatively, you may download a copy of the form by clicking here.
Para descargar una copia del formulario en español, haga clic aquí.
For written complaints, please include:
- Your name, address and contact information (telephone number, email address)
- For accessibility complaints: time, date, and location of the occurrence and reason you believe the agency, location, or service is not accessible to persons with disabilities
- For complaints related to alleged discrimination based on disability: time, date, location, and a description of the incident, names and/or descriptions of individuals involved, and why you believe the act was discriminatory.
- In both situations, please include the vehicle number and/or route if applicable.
Complaints can be sent to:
City of Billings MET Transit ATTN: ADA/Section 504 Coordinator
1705 Monad Rd
Billings, MT 59101
For complaints alleging discrimination based on disability, an investigation will be initiated within 10 days of receiving the complaint. MET Transit will make every effort to respond to ADA complaints within 30 working days of receipt.
Complaint Assistance
If you are unable to complete a written complaint, please contact MET Transit at 406-657-8218 during regular business hours.
Title VI Compliance
MET Transit is committed to ensuring no person is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination in the receipt of services or programs on the basis of race, color or national origin or any other characteristics protected by law, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. Further, under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, no entity shall discriminate against an individual with a physical or mental disability in connection with the provision of transportation service.
Additional Information
To obtain more information on MET Transit's nondiscrimination obligations or to file a Title VI complaint, contact Rusty Logan, Transit Manager (406) 657-8218, FAX (406) 657-8419. You may file a written complaint no later than 180 days after the date of the alleged discrimination at:
Rusty Logan Transit Manager City of Billings MET Transit P.O. Box 1178 Billings, MT 59103 |
To download a copy of the complaint form.
A copy of MET Transit's Title VI Policy is available for download.
Translation services for transit related issues are available upon request.
Título VI
MET Transit se compromete a garantizar que ninguna persona sea excluida de la participación, se le nieguen los beneficios o esté sujeto a discriminación en la recepción de servicios o programas por motivos de raza, color u origen nacional o cualquier otra característica protegida por la ley, incluyendo Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, según enmendada. Además, según la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA) de 1990, ninguna entidad discriminará a un individuo con una discapacidad física o mental en relación con la prestación del servicio de transporte.
Información Adicional
Para obtener más información sobre las obligaciones de no discriminación de MET Transit o para presentar una queja del Título VI, comuníquese con Rusty Logan, Transit Manager (406) 657-8218, FAX (406) 657-8419. Puede presentar una queja por escrito a más tardar 180 días después de la fecha de la supuesta discriminación en:
Rusty Logan Transit Manager City of Billings MET Transit P.O. Box 1178 Billings, MT 59103 |
Para descargar una copia del formulario de queja en español, haga clic aquí.
Una copia de la Política del Titulo VI de MET Transit está disponible para descargar.
Los servicios de traducción para asuntos relacionados con el tránsito están disponibles a pedido.
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MET Transit
Physical Address
1705 Monad Road
Billings, MT 59101
Phone: (406) 657-8218