Pledge of Nondiscrimination

The Metropolitan Council pledges that you will have access to all our programs, services and benefits without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or socioeconomic status.

The Metropolitan Council will not tolerate discrimination by its employees or by those who receive federal funds from the Metropolitan Council. The Metropolitan Council prohibits all discriminatory practices that may result in an individual:

Being denied any service, financial aid or benefit provided under a program to which he or she may be otherwise entitled;
Being held to different standards or requirements for participation;
Experiencing segregation or separate treatment in any part of a program;
Being subject to distinctions in quality, quantity or manner in which a benefit is provided;
Experiencing discrimination in any activities conducted in a Metro Transit facility built in whole or part with Federal funds.

Further, the Metropolitan Council will:

Avoid or reduce harmful human health and environmental effects on minority and low
Ensure full and fair participation by all communities, including low-income and minority populations in the transportation decision
Prevent the denial of reduction in or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority and low income populations.

These rights are guaranteed to you under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which says in part:

“No person in the United State shall, on the grounds 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.” (42 U.S.C. Sec200d)

In addition, Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, 1994 provides:

“Each Federal agency shall make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations.”

Because the Council receives Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding the Council must implement the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Policy Guidance Concerning Recipients’ Responsibilities to Limited English Proficient (LEP) Persons (DOT LEP Guidance, Federal Register, vol. 70, no. 239, pp. 74087–74100, December 14, 2005).

If you believe that you have been discriminated against because of your race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or socioeconomic status, you may file a written complaint with the Metropolitan Council's Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity at this address:

Director, Equal Opportunity
390 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55044

Or you can contact us by phone at 651- 602-1085 or by e-mail at: data.center@metc.state.mn.us