Richland County Transportation Service is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination in the receipt of its services or programs on the basis of race, color or national origin or any other characteristics protected by state or federal law, including: the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. Further, under the Americans 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. To this end Richland County Transportation Service has updated its Title VI program, as required by the Federal Transit Administration, and is a available for review.
To obtain more information on the Richland County Transportation Service nondiscrimination obligations or to file a Title VI or ADA complaint, contact Nicole Cosby at the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) at 406-444-6334. You have the right to file a complaint of discrimination in writing no later than 180 calendar days after the date of the alleged discrimination. If you are unable to complete a written complaint, please contact MDT for assistance. Mail complaint to: 2701 Prospect Avenue, Helena, MT 59620.
Complaint forms may be obtained online at: http://www.mdt.mt.gov/other/webdata/external/civilrights/forms/civil-rights-discrimination-complaint-form.pdf, or a paper copy can be mailed to you by calling 406-444-6334. Those using a TTY may call 1(800)335-7592 or Montana Relay at 711.
To obtain more information on the Richland County Transportation Service nondiscrimination obligations or to file a Title VI or ADA complaint, contact Nicole Cosby at the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) at 406-444-6334. You have the right to file a complaint of discrimination in writing no later than 180 calendar days after the date of the alleged discrimination. If you are unable to complete a written complaint, please contact MDT for assistance. Mail complaint to: 2701 Prospect Avenue, Helena, MT 59620.
Complaint forms may be obtained online at: http://www.mdt.mt.gov/other/webdata/external/civilrights/forms/civil-rights-discrimination-complaint-form.pdf, or a paper copy can be mailed to you by calling 406-444-6334. Those using a TTY may call 1(800)335-7592 or Montana Relay at 711.
RCTS strives to go above and beyond all ADA Requirements
Richland County Transportation Service has six (6) lift equipped buses and four (4) ADA accessible vans. You can rest assured that when you call for a ride, no matter what vehicle arrives at your door, it will be able to fit every type of standard mobility device. Every driver at RCTS undergoes extensive training to make sure that you and your device are secured safely in the vehicle. RCTS provides door-to-door service to assist you with any needs or concerns you may have while boarding and alighting our vehicles. If you need a reasonable modification in order to take full advantage of RCTS, please contact us at (406) 433-RIDE (7433) or email rcts@richland.org and we will review your request. Every effort will be made to rant requests that fit into our ability of service.
All the information contained on these web pages is also available in a large print brochure; simply email jodi.berry@richland.org and we will gladly supply it to you as well as answer any questions you may have.
All the information contained on these web pages is also available in a large print brochure; simply email jodi.berry@richland.org and we will gladly supply it to you as well as answer any questions you may have.
Richland County Transportation Service ADA Policy
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights legislation designed to integrate people with disabilities into the mainstream of life. It provides people with disabilities equal access to employment, places of public accommodations, transportation and telephone services.
The ADA's Transportation Requirements
Under the ADA, the Federal transit Administration (FTA) requires that all public transportation providers:
- Purchase lift-equipped vehicles
- Assist customers who cannot secure their own tie-down straps and offer assistance upon request
- Train operators on the safe use of lift related equipment and on the sensitivity of customers with disabilities.
- Ensure that customers using a mobility device are not required to transfer to a seat.
- Give adequate time for customers with disabilities to board and disembark the vehicle.
- Permit service animals, such as, (but not limited to) seeing-eye dogs to accompany customer with disabilities on the vehicles, without required a harness or certification for the animal.
- Permit customers with disabilities to travel on the vehicle with a respirator or personal oxygen supply.
- Allow personal attendants on board for those customers who need them, but not require them to ride with an attendant if they are capable of riding on their own.
- Cycle the lift daily, inspect all ADA required features, and provide regular and frequent maintenance.
- Report ADA equipment failures immediately.
- Assure that mobility device/wheelchair securement locations are available to customers with disabilities, unless occupied by other customers with disabilities.
- Allow those customers with disabilities to board while standing on the lift, if they are unable to board the vehicle otherwise.
- Deploy the lift whenever it is requested.
- Allow customers with disabilities to ride without seatbelt restraints IF other customer are allowed to ride without seatbelts.
- Make system brochures, application forms, rider handbooks, and occasional bulletins available in alternative formats upon request.
- Provide a process for requesting reasonable modification to policies and practices to accommodate a person with a disability.
- Maintain procedures for addressing ADA complaints that incorporate appropriate due process standards and provide for prompt and equitable resolution. For more information see RCTS's ADA COMPLAINT PROCEDURES