Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority
Transportation Council for the Elderly and Disabled of Erie County
The 2024 transportation council for the elderly and disabled of Erie County will be hosted via zoom quarterly on the following dates beginning at 12:30PM. Anyone interested in participating can request a meeting link by emailing cgerhart@ride-the-e.com.
January 18th
April 18th
July 18th
October 17th
ADA Discrimination Complaint Procedure
If you believe you have been discriminated against based on disability by the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority, you may file an administrative complaint with the ADA Coordinator through EMTA or FTA Office of Civil Rights. Any person who believes they has been discriminated based on a disability by the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority (EMTA) may file an ADA complaint by completing and submitting the ADA Complaint Procedure. A complaint may also be filed by a representative on behalf of such a person. EMTA investigates complaints received no more than 180 days after the alleged incident.
With your form, please include the following information on a separate sheet:
- A summary of your allegations and any supporting documentation.
- Sufficient details for an investigator to understand why you believe a public transit provider has violated the ADA with specifics such as dates and times of incidents.
- Any related correspondence from the transit provider.
You may mail your complaint form and supporting documentation to:
Julie Meyers
ADA Coordinator
127 E. 14th Street
Erie PA, 16503
jmeyers@ride-the-e.com
814-454-4012 ext. 227
Or, you may visit our administrative office at 127 East 14th Street, Erie, PA 16503 to submit complaints in person
A complaint may also be filed directly with the Federal Transit Administration at the following address:
Federal Transit Administration
Office of Civil Rights
Attention: Complaint Team
East Building, 5th Floor – TCR
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590
888-446-4511
In order to have the complaint considered under this procedure, the complainant must file the complaint no later than 180 days after:
- The date of the alleged act of discrimination; or
- Where there has been a continuing course of conduct, the date on which that conduct was discontinued.
In either case, EMTA may extend the time for filing or waive the time limit in the interest of justice, as long as EMTA specifies in writing the reason for doing so.
- Complaints shall be in writing and shall be signed by the complainant and/or the complainant’s representative. Complaints shall set forth, as fully as possible, the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged discrimination. In the event that a person makes a verbal complaint of discrimination to an officer or employee of EMTA, the person shall be interviewed by the ADA Coordinator. If necessary, the ADA Coordinator will assist the person in reducing the complaint to writing and submit the written version of the complaint to the person for signature. To receive this assistance please contact EMTA at 814-459-8922 x 227
- Within ten (10) business days of receipt of the complaint, the ADA Coordinator will acknowledge receipt of the allegation, inform the complainant of action or proposed action to process the allegation, and advise the complainant of other avenues of redress available, such as the State or the United States Departments of Transportation.
- Within ten (10) business days after receiving the allegation, the ADA Coordinator will proceed with an investigation. Every effort will be made to complete investigations within thirty (30) business days. Within ten (10) business days after completion of the investigation, a decision will be reached upon consultation with the Executive Director. The decision will be rendered in writing by the ADA Coordinator within ten (10) business days of the decision. A copy of the written decision will be furnished to the complainant within five (5) business days. If corrective or remedial action is found warranted, such a decision will state the nature of the action, which will be taken by EMTA.
- If the complainant is dissatisfied with the decision, an appeal may be made within ten (10) business days after notice of a decision by the Executive Director has been received by the complainant following the appeals process noted below. The notification will advise the complainant of his/her appeal rights with the state and federal Departments of Transportation and provide addresses if they are dissatisfied with the final decision rendered by the Authority.
- A complaint may also be filed directly with the Federal Transit Administration or the U.S. Department of Transportation.
- All ADA complaints will be recorded on the EMTA Complaint Log. The complaint form, supplemental information, and investigation documentation will be maintained by EMTA for a period not less than five (5) years.
RIGHT TO APPEAL PROCEDURES UNDER THE ADA COMPLAINT POLICY
Any customer has a right to appeal if they disagree with a decision made by the EMTA Administration. To file an appeal request, a customer may do so in writing or orally by contacting the EMTA ADA Appeal Agent . The contact information for the ADA Appeal Agent is 814-459-8922 x 109, 127 E. 14th Street Erie PA 16503 Attn: ADA Appeals, or via email at mkohler@ride-the-e.com. Appellants will receive at least 14 days’ notice of a hearing date. The appeal will be brought to the ADA Appeals Committee, which consists of a panel of three people appointed and mutually agreed upon by the Chairperson of the Transportation Council for the Elderly and Disabled of Erie County and the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority, and which meets on the third Friday of each month. Individuals will be notified as to the date, time and location of when and where the individual’s appeal will be presented. Persons appealing are welcome to attend. Every effort is made to resolve appeals within thirty (30) days. The ADA Appeal Agent will send written notification to the customer of the decision regarding the appeal. Confidentiality will be maintained.
Reasonable Modification Policy
Notice to the Public
The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority will make reasonable modifications to its policies, practices, or procedures when requested to do so by individuals with disabilities when such accommodations are necessary to avoid discrimination based on disability.
To ensure that programs and services are accessible to customers with a disability, an individual may request that a modification to the EMTA’s or LIFT’s policies, practices and/or procedures in certain instances be made to allow them to access and utilize these services. There are no restrictions on when a customer can request a reasonable modification, although the EMTA and LIFT support and encourage customers to place a written request as soon as possible.
EXCEPTIONS
Reasonable modification requests to The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority must consider any and all requests for reasonable modifications but shall take into account the following exceptions:
Reasonable modifications –
- Will not place an undue financial and/or administrative burden on the EMTA or LIFT and/or their transportation contractors;
- Will not constitute a fundamental alteration of EMTA or LIFT’s current transportation services, programs or activities;
- Cannot cause a direct threat to the health or safety of others;
- Cannot adversely affect the service provided to other EMTA or LIFT customers;
- Cannot jeopardize the functionality or use of equipment used to provide EMTA or LIFT’s transit services; and
- May not be approved if the individual with a disability is still able to fully use EMTA or LIFT’s services, programs, or activities for their intended purpose without the requested modification.
Advanced Requests:
When making a request, please thoroughly describe what is needed to use the service and why the accommodation is necessary. Reasonable Modification Request forms are available for LIFT Paratransit here customers and Fixed Route here customers. Reasonable Modification Request forms are also available at our Administrative Office. The Authority staff will review the request and make every effort to communicate in advance whether the requested modification can be made. If the modification is not made, the Authority will provide the reason for the denial of the request.
Same Day Requests:
When a request for modification cannot be made in advance, a request may be made on the same day or during service. The request should be made to the EMTA or LIFT operator. Please describe in detail the accommodation needed, and why it is necessary in order to use the service. Operators may grant a request if it is reasonable and meets the requirements of the Authority’s policy.
If an operator is unsure if the request should be granted or declined, they are required to consult with the Authority’s dispatch office for further direction. Please note a vehicle operator’s availability to provide an accommodation on the spot may be limited, especially if the accommodation requires extended attention. The request may not be accommodated immediately, in which case the passenger will be encouraged to submit a written request for consideration for future trips.
The Authority’s ability to accommodate the requested modification may vary by route, day of travel, time of day or additional circumstances.
Requests can be made through the following means:
ADA LIFT Coordinator: Julie Meyers
127 East 14th Street
Erie, PA 16503
Phone: (814)459-8922, extension 227
Email: jmeyers@ride-the-e.com
ADA FIXED ROUTE Coordinator: Becca Gathers
127 East 14th Street
Erie, PA 16503
Phone: (814)459-8922, extension 133
Email: rgathers@ride-the-e.com
Appeal Process:
If a passenger wishes to appeal the authority’s denial of a request for accommodations, please contact the ADA Appeal’s Agent to advise your appeal:
Molly Kohler
127 East 14th Street
Erie, PA 16503
Phone: (814)459-8922, extension 109
Email: mkohler@ride-the-e.com