Commitment to Civil Rights - Title VI

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of its services on the basis of race, color or national origin, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.

Toward this end, it is Metro's objective to:

  • Ensure that the level and quality of transportation service is provided in a nondiscriminatory manner;
  • Identify and address, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects, including social and economic effects of programs and activities on minority populations and low-income populations;
  • Promote the full and fair participation in public transportation decision-making without regard to race, color, or national origin;
  • Ensure meaningful access to transit-related programs and activities by persons with limited and no-English proficiency (LEP/NEP).

The General Manager, senior management, and all supervisors and employees share the responsibility for carrying out Metro's commitment to Title VI. The Title VI staff is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the program and the staff receives and investigates Title VI complaints that come through the complaint procedures process as described in the next section.

View the General Manager's EEO Policy Statement PDF Icon and his commitment to equal employment opportunity.

Documents describing Metro's Title VI Policy are available for download in the languages listed below. These documents are also available upon request in your language of preference by calling 202-962-2582.

Metro's Title VI Complaint Procedures

Any person who believes that they have been subjected to discrimination under Title VI on the basis of race, color or national origin may file a Title VI complaint with Metro normally within 180 days from the date of the alleged discrimination. Complaints may either be filed with Metro or with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Filing a Complaint With Metro

Complaints may be filed with Metro in writing and may be addressed to:

Office of Equal Employment Opportunity,
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
300 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024

You can download a copy of the Title VI Complaint Form in the following languages:

Or you can obtain a copy of the Title VI Complaint Form by calling the Title VI telephone hotline number at 202-962-2582, or via email at title.vi.complaint@wmata.com.

Metro will provide appropriate assistance to complainants who are limited in their ability to communicate in English.

Filing a Complaint Directly to the U.S. Department of Transportation

A complainant may file a Title VI complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation by contacting the Department at:

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Transit Administration's Office of Civil Rights
1200 New Jersey Avenue, 5th floor
Washington, DC 20590

What Happens to My Title VI Complaint to Metro?

Once a complaint is received, it will be recorded in the Customer Relations Management database and assigned to an investigator. The investigator will contact the complainant in writing and/or by telephone.

Based upon receipt of all the information required, the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (OEEO) will investigate a Title VI complaint within 90 days of receipt. The investigator will prepare a draft written response subject to review by Metro's Director of OEEO. The Director of OEEO will make the final determination and approve the final response to the complainant, including notifying the complainant of his/her right to file a complaint externally.

The Office of Equal Employment Opportunity will use its best efforts to respond to a Title VI complaint within 90 calendar days of its receipt of such complaint. Receipt of additional relevant information and/or simultaneous filing of complaint with Metro and an external entity may expand the timing of the complaint resolution. Failure of the complainant to provide the requested information by a certain date may result in the administrative closure of the complaint or a delay in complaint resolution.

For additional information on Metro's nondiscrimination obligations, please send an email message to OEEOHotline@wmata.com, or write to:

Office of Equal Employment Opportunity,
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
300 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
202-962-2582

WMATA's Public Participation Plan

Metro strives to be a leader in transit-oriented public participation, outreach and communication - meeting and exceeding federal obligations with its Public Participation Plan (PPP). First developed in 2013, the PPP serves as the Authority's guidebook to guarantee customers and community members receive high-quality information, communication, and feedback opportunities around planned projects and policy decisions impacting service and fares.

The Public Participation Plan was developed through a yearlong, robust process that included a review of federal requirements, a best practice review of 10 transportation agencies around the country, staff and Board Member interviews, outreach to Community Based Organizations serving Title VI and other hard-to-reach populations in the service area, and a general public outreach campaign. The first edition of the PPP was approved by Metro's Board of Directors in September 2014 and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in January 2015.

Since then, the Public Participation Plan has been updated twice as part of Metro's Title VI Program Updates as required by the FTA Title VI Circular. The 2023-2026 edition of the PPP, approved by Metro's Board of Directors in December 2023, reflects the agency's evolution in public communication and outreach. This evolution includes new direction from Metro's 2023 Strategic Transformation Plan, new leadership and changes in organizational structure, successes and lessons learned over the past three years, and changes to outreach best practices after the Covid-19 pandemic.

2023-2026 Public Participation Plan (Accessible PDF)