FHWA Resource Center

CIVIL RIGHTS TECHNICAL SERVICE TEAM

Transportation touches the lives of all people living in the United States—it affects their economic well-being, their safety, their links to other places, the quality of their environment, their access to education and cultural activities, and their security at home and abroad. Almost any activity that people engage in outside the home such as working, managing personal business, and socializing-relies on access to transportation of some kind, from sidewalk design to the width of airplane aisles.

As leaders for improving mobility on our Nations Highway’s through National Leadership, Innovation, and Program Delivery, the FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) has an inherent responsibility to ensure that all people, regardless of Race, Color, National Origin, Sex, Age, Religion or Disability share in the benefits of transportation programs. Civil Rights laws and implementing regulations extend to every facet of the Federal-aid Highway Program. This includes the design and construction of highways—from planning to project development, right-of-way, safety, and protecting the human and natural environment.

Our vision is that: “Our Agency and our Transportation System are the Best in the World.”

The FHWA Civil Rights’ mission is “To protect the rights of those employed in, benefiting from, or affected by FHWA or the programs, policies and activities of its recipients, sub-recipients, and contractors”.

The Civil Rights Technical Service Team (CR TST) at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Resource Center is committed to professional excellence and serving our customers with high quality products and timely services. The CR TST also works in partnership with our Headquarters Office of Civil Rights to develop, promote and implement new policies, guidance, technologies, and National Initiatives to advance the FHWA/State Transportation Agency (STA) civil rights programs. The CR TST is pleased to offer our services and provide our Division Offices and STA with the latest in Civil Rights training, technical assistance and technology deployment in five major civil rights program areas:

•	Title VI/Nondiscrimination Program: The Federal Highway Administration’s Title VI/Nondiscrimination Program is governed by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, provides that no person, on the ground 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. Sex, age, handicap/disability are covered under other laws but recognized by FHWA to enforce our nondiscrimination programs. Each STA receives federal financial assistance from FHWA as well other USDOT agencies. As recipients of FHWA funds, STAs must administer a Title VI/Nondiscrimination program to prevent discrimination and ensure nondiscrimination in all of their programs and activities, as well as those of their subrecipients (cities, counties, etc). The STA’s Title VI/Nondiscrimination program must comply with FHWA regulations (23 CFR 200) and USDOT regulations (49 CFR 21). Key elements of a STA’s Title VI/ Nondiscrimination Program are: Civil Rights organization and staffing; implementation of Title VI policies and procedures; signed USDOT Standard Assurances; programs to conduct Title VI reviews; data collection, analysis and reporting; training, public involvement; procedures to process and resolve complaints.
•	ADA/Section 504: Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in State/Local Government Services. Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in federally assisted programs. The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) ADA/504 program ensures that recipients of Federal-aid and State and local government (public) entities that are responsible for roadways and pedestrian facilities do not discriminate on the basis of disability in any highway transportation program, activity, service or benefit they provide to the public; and ensure that recipients’ and public entities’ public rights-of-way system (sidewalks) is accessible to people with disabilities. Key ADA/504 requirements which recipients and public entities implement include: administrative requirements (designation of an ADA/504 Coordinator); providing program accessibility (self-evaluation and Transition Plan); constructing accessible new and altered facilities (curb ramps, buildings); monitoring activities of FHWA sub-recipients (local governments) and provide effective communications to people with disabilities (sign language interpreters). Section 504 requirements under USDOT regulations are 49 CFR 27 and Title II ADA requirements are contained in Department of Justice regulations under 28 CFR 35.
•	Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (DBE); The DBE program is a U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) program that ensures equal opportunity in transportation contracting; addresses the effects of discrimination, and promotes increased participation of DBEs in DOT assisted contracts. The STAs award federally-assisted highway contracts therefore each STA is required to submit a DBE Plan to FHWA for approval. The approved DBE Plan obligates the STA to administer a DBE Program that complies with USDOT regulations under 49 CFR 26. Key elements of a DBE program include: Designation of DBE Liaison Officer; signed Policy Statement; DBE goals and good faith efforts; contract administration procedures; reporting; program monitoring; certification; compliance and enforcement.
•	Contractor Compliance Program: The FHWA statute (23 USC 140 (a), and regulations under 23 CFR 230 - Subparts A, C, and D. requires STAs to administer an Equal Opportunity Program. The STA’s Equal Opportunity Program includes Part I – Contractor Compliance and Part II – State Internal EEO. The Contractor Compliance Program seeks to ensure that Federal contractors and subcontractors performing work on Federal and federally assisted highway contracts do not discriminate in their employment and contracting practices based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability. The STAs must administer a contractor compliance program to meet the FHWA regulations. Key elements of a Contractor Compliance program are: organization and staffing; contract compliance review procedures; management of the On-the-Job Training (OJT) program; data collection, analysis, and reporting; and procedures to process complaints against highway contractors.
•	State Internal Equal Employment Opportunity Program (SIEEO): The FHWA regulations under 23 CFR 230- Subpart C, require STAs to implement an Internal EEO program. The SIEEO program is comprehensive and includes all elements of a STAs personnel management, policies, and procedures. Key elements of the SIEEO program are: Designation of an Affirmative Action or Internal EEO Officer; implementation of an Affirmative Action Plan; issuance of EEO Policy statement and commitment; data collection, workforce analysis and reporting; removal of barriers;, training; processing EEO complaints, accountability of management personnel; program monitoring and evaluation. As a condition for continued receipt of FHWA funds each STA must submit an annual EEO program update to FHWA for approval.

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Team Leader

Teresa Banks
(biography)
Civil Rights Technical Service Team Leader
61 Forsyth Street, SW Suite 17T26
Atlanta, GA 30303
Ph: (404) 562-3592
Fax: (404) 562-3700
teresa.banks@dot.gov

Program Assistant

Noni Brown
(biography)
Program Assistant
10 South Howard Street Suite 4000
Baltimore, MD 21201
Ph: (415) 962-7965
Fax: (410) 952-3419
noni.brown@dot.gov

Team Members

Specialty Area(s)

Bernetta Collins (biography) Civil Rights Specialist 12300 West Dakota Avenue Suite 340 Lakewood, CO 80228 Ph: (720) 963-3243 Fax: (720) 524-5275 bernetta.collins@dot.gov

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Equal Opportunity Contractor Compliance State Internal EEO

Toney Dixon (biography) Civil Rights Specialist 19900 Governors Drive Suite 301 Olympia Fields, IL 60461 Ph: (708) 283-3522 Fax: (708) 283-3501 toney.dixon@dot.gov

Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Complaint Investigation Environmental Justice Project Labor Agreements(PLA)/Union Programs Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Contractor Compliance: On the Job Training and Apprenticeship Programs Prevention Of Sexual Harassment Title VI Nondiscrimination Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Mediations

Janet Hayes (biography) EEO Specialist 61 Forsyth Street, SW Suite 17T26 Atlanta, GA 30303 Ph: (404) 562-3579 Fax: (404) 562-3700 janet.hayes@dot.gov

Technology Deployment Promising Practices Web Conference Coordination

Deborah Johnson (biography) Civil Rights Specialist 10 South Howard Street Suite 4000 Baltimore, MD 21201 Ph: (410) 962-0634 Fax: (410) 962-3655 deborah.a.johnson@dot.gov

Title VI/Nondiscrimination Title VII Equal Employment Opportunity Diversity and Inclusion EEO Strategic and Business Planning EEO Performance Measurements

Peter Silva (biography) Civil Rights Specialist 10 South Howard Street Suite 4000 Baltimore, MD 21201 Ph: (410) 962-0629 Fax: (410) 962-4586 peter.silva@dot.gov

Equal Opportunity - State Internal and External Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Contract Compliance including Indian Preference Compensation Equity

Sandra Talbert-Jackson (biography) Equal Opportunity/Contract Compliance Specialist 10 South Howard Street Suite 4000 Baltimore, MD 21201 Ph: (410) 962-0116 Fax: (410) 962-3419 sandy.talbertjackson@dot.gov

State Internal and Affirmative Action Programs Equal Opportunity Contractor Compliance and On-the-Job Training Nondiscrimination Programs: Title VI and Environmental Justice Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Diversity Strategic and Performance Planning Risk Assessment and Program\Process Reviews

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