What is Title VI?

This statute of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

To learn more about Title VI, view the Understanding Title VI webpage.

Federal Title VI / Nondiscrimination Protections

The Central Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (CMMPO) hereby states its policy to operate its programs, services and activities in full compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and related federal and state statutes and regulations.. Title VI prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs and requires that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, including limited English proficiency, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal assistance.

Related federal nondiscrimination laws administered by the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, or both prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, sex, and disability. These protected categories are contemplated within the CMMPO’s Title VI Programs consistent with federal and state interpretation and administration. Additionally, the CMMPO provides meaningful access to its programs, services, and activities to individuals with limited English proficiency, in compliance with US Department of Transportation policy and guidance on federal Executive Order 13166.

The CMMPO also complies with the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law, M.G.L. c272 §§ 92a, 98, 98a, prohibiting making any distinction, discrimination, or restriction in admission to or treatment in a place of public accommodation based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or ancestry. Likewise, CMMPO complies with the Governor’s Executive Order 526, section 4 requiring all programs, activities and services provided, performed, licensed, chartered, funded, regulated, or contracted for by the state shall be conducted without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, disability, veteran’s status (including Vietnam-era veterans), or background.

Other Federal Protections

The CMMPO is equally committed to implementing Executive Order 12898, entitled “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations.” In this capacity, the CMMPO identifies and addresses disproportionally high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations. The CMMPO identified the region's environmental justice population and included other vulnerable populations to reflect the region's characteristics. For the regional Environmental Justice definition.

The CMMPO carries out this responsibility by involving minority and low-income individuals in the transportation process and considering their transportation needs in the development and review of the CMMPO’s transportation plans, programs, and projects. In addition to this, the CMMPO has a plan to engage the population with limited English proficiency. For more information about the LEP plan.

Filing a Complaint

Individuals who feel they have been discriminated against in violation of Title VI or related Federal nondiscrimination laws, must file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory conduct to:

Janet A. Pierce, Executive Director
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission
One Mercantile Street
Worcester, MA 01608
(508) 459-3319

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
One Ashburton Place, 6^th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 994-6000
TTY: (617) 994-6196