The Martha’s Vineyard Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) through the Martha’s Vineyard Commission hereby states its policy to uphold and assure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and related federal and state statutes and regulations.

Title VI prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs and requires that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal assistance. Massachusetts law also prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and/or national origin, and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission assures compliance with these laws and related Federal and state civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination based on sex, age, and/or disability.

Individuals who feel they have been discriminated against in violation of Title VI must file a complaint within 180 days with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Title VI/Nondiscrimination Specialist.

The Martha’s Vineyard MPO also upholds the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law, M.G.L. c 272 §§92a, 98, 98a, and the Governor’s Executive Order 526, Section 4, which provide that access to programs, services, and benefits be provided without regard to religious creed, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran's status, and/or ancestry, in addition to the previously referenced bases. Public accommodation concerns can be brought to MassDOT’s Title VI Nondiscrimination Specialist.

The MVC has adopted MassDOT's procedures for processing discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. These procedures and the MassDOT complaint forms are available in both English and Portuguese:

• Title VI Complaint Procedures | Procedimentos de Queixa sob o Título VI
• Discrimination Complaint Form | Formulário de Reclamação por Discriminação

To file a complaint under Title VI of the state Public Accommodations law, please use the following contact information:

Title VI Nondiscrimination Specialist
Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Office of Civil Rights
10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116
Tel: (617) 973-7171
TTY: (617) 973-7715
massdot.civilrights@state.ma.us

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
One Ashburton Place, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02109
Tel: (617) 994-6000
TTY: (617) 994-6196

Local Martha’s Vineyard Commission Title VI Contact
Curtis Schroeder
Administrator, Martha's Vineyard Commission
33 New York Avenue
P.O. Box 1447, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
Tel: (508) 693-3453