GREAT FALLS TRANSIT DISTRICT TITLE VI - ADA
COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
The Great Falls Transit District 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, national origin or any other characteristics protected by law, including the Title VI of 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.
The above Federal listed protections are further expanded, by the State of Montana, to include religion, marital status and
political ideas or beliefs.
Any person believing they have been subjected to discrimination in the course of doing business with the Great Falls
Transit District may file a complaint, following the outline of the Great Falls Transit District complaint form.
Within seven business days of receiving the complaint, the Great Falls Transit District Manager shall contact the
complainant, if any further information is necessary to conduct an investigation.
Within twenty days of receiving the complaint, the Great Falls Transit District will investigate the complaint and produce a
written report of the investigation including: a narrative description of the incident, identification of persons interviewed, findings and recommendations for disposition.
Within thirty days of receiving the complaint, the General Manager will contact the complainant and inform them of the
findings of the investigation.
Complainants will be advised of their appeal rights to the appropriate federal agency, should they not agree with the
findings of the district.
The Great Falls Transit District Administrative Assistant will be responsible for coordination of all ADA complaints. Contact
information for the Great Falls Transit District regarding Civil Rights is as follows:
Administrative Assistant
Great Falls Transit District
3905 North Star Boulevard
Great Falls, Montana 59405
Phone: 406-727-0382
Email: admin@gftransit.com
GREAT FALLS TRANSIT DISTRICT REASONABLE MODIFICATION POLICY
Reasonable Modification Policy
In accordance with ADA regulations, it is the policy of the Great Falls Transit District (GFTD) to provide individuals with
disabilities with a reasonable modification to its policies, practices, and procedures so that they can access GFTD programs, facilities and services.
What is a reasonable modification?
A reasonable modification is a change or exception to a policy, practice, or procedure which allows people with
disabilities to have equal access to programs, services and activities. Reasonable modifications must always be related to the individual’s disability.
What is the process for requests?
Whenever possible, requests for reasonable modifications shall be made and determined in advance. An advance request
for reasonable modification can be sent to:
Great Falls Transit District
PO Box 2353
Great Falls MT 59403
Telephone: 406-727-0382
Email: gm@gftransit.com
The request shall include:
- Your contact information
- A description of what you need in order to use a GFTD service
- Changes or modifications you believe would be necessary to provide you full access to GFTD Transit’s services.
GFTD will respond to a request as soon as practical. In some instances, additional information will be necessary to
process the request. Please ensure your contact information is included with your request.
What is the process for making on the spot requests?
It may not always be possible for a reasonable modification request to be made and determined in advance. In these
cases, please request a reasonable modification with a GFTD Transit operator at the time of issue. A response to an on the spot request will be made at the time of the request. Responses to on the spot requests can include:
- Granting the request
- Denying the request
- Referring the passenger to GFTD management for further processing. Operators will seek assistance from GFTD management during these instances via the two-way radio.
For what reasons may GFTD deny a reasonable modification request?
GFTD may deny a reasonable modification request, whether made in advance or on the spot, for any of the following
reasons:
- Granting the request would fundamentally alter the nature of GFTD Transit’s services, programs or activities
- Granting the request would create a direct threat to the health or safety of others
- The individual with a disability is able to fully use the entity’s services, programs, or activities for their intended purpose without the need of a modification
- Granting the request would cause GFTD Transit undue financial or administrative burden.
If a request is denied, GFTD will take action to the maximum extent possible to ensure the individual receives GFTD
Transit’s services or benefits.
What are examples of reasonable modifications GFTD generally will grant?
GFTD will generally grant the following reasonable modification requests for individuals with disabilities:
- A request from a passenger whom has diabetes (or another medical condition) to eat or drink aboard a vehicle in order to avoid adverse health consequences so long as the drink is in a spill proof container and the food is a small snack that cannot cause any spills
- A request for transit personnel to handle fare media when the passenger with a disability cannot pay the fare by the generally established means; for instance, when the passenger cannot reach or insert a fare into the fare box themselves
- A request from a wheelchair user to board a vehicle separately from his or her device (if the individual is capable of doing so) when the occupied weight of the device exceeds the design load of the vehicle lift
This list of examples is neither exhaustive nor exclusive. Passengers with disabilities are encouraged to contact GFTD with
specific reasonable modification requests. All information is available in accessible formats upon request; please contact GFTD for assistance.
