Individuals or organizations who believe they have been denied the benefits of, excluded from participation in, or subject to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, or national origin by a recipient of Federal Railroad Administration funding can file an administrative complaint with the Federal Railroad Administration's Office of Civil Rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

FRA investigates complaints on the basis of intentional discrimination or on the basis of disparate impact discrimination, where a neutral policy or practice has the effect of disproportionately excluding or adversely affecting minority beneficiaries or other protected individuals and the recipient's practice lacks a substantial legitimate justification.

Under the Executive Order on Environmental Justice and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Order to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, a member of the public, a group of people, or their representatives can file an administrative complaint against a recipient of financial assistance from FRA, a transportation provider, a transportation-related entity, or FRA itself alleging discrimination and/or adverse environmental effects, including social and economic effects, against a specific minority or low income community or population group, due to a project or activity funded or carried out by DOT.

Individuals and organizations may file a complaint by completing the Title VI complaint form (see link on the side). Complaints should be signed and include contact information and should be sent to:

Office of Civil Rights
Federal Railroad Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
ROA-10, Mail Stop 5
Washington, DC 20590

FRA strives to promptly investigate the complaints received. At the conclusion of our investigation we will transmit a letter of finding to the complainant and the recipient. If our investigation determines that the recipient is not in violation of Title VI, our letters will explain why the recipient was found in compliance. If we determine that a recipient is in violation of Title VI, our letters will document the violation and instruct the recipient to take action to come into compliance.

No one may intimidate, threaten, coerce, or engage in other discriminatory conduct against anyone because he or she has either filed a complaint to secure rights protected by the nondiscrimination statutes we enforce. Any individual alleging such harassment or intimidation may file a complaint with the Federal Transit Administration. We would investigate such a complaint.