AC Transit Title VI Disparate Impact (DI) and Disproportionate Burden (DB) Policies Review  

AC Transit is undertaking a Title VI Disparate Impact and Disproportionate Burden (DI/DB) Policies Review to ensure its transit services remain fair, inclusive, and compliant with federal civil rights requirements. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal funding. This review will help AC Transit evaluate whether service (schedules and/or route locations) or fare changes could create disparate impact on people of color or a disproportionate burden on low-income communities. The review also impacts service monitoring criteria included in the District’s Title VI Program Update, which is submitted to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) every three years. By analyzing data, reviewing policies, reviewing peer agencies, and engaging with the public, AC Transit aims to make informed decisions that will protect vulnerable populations and improve equitable access to transit for all riders. 

Here’s how the project will be completed: 

• Data Collection & Review: The project team will begin by gathering information about AC Transit’s service area and review how equity analyses have been done in the past, both at AC Transit and at other transit agencies locally and nationwide.  

• Gap Analysis & Findings: The team will compare different methods and tools used for equity analysis, identify any gaps or areas for improvement, and discuss what they find.  

• Community Engagement: AC Transit will host a series of meetings to gather feedback from the public by partnering with local community-based organizations (CBOs) serving various priority communities in AC Transit’s service area. An eNewsletter will also be distributed in Spring 2026, requesting input from the broader community. Feedback will help influence recommendations made as part of this project for consideration by the AC Transit Board. 

• Recommendations: Based on the findings, the team will draft and finalize recommendations for AC Transit, including updates to policies and methods, and will incorporate feedback from the public before completing the final report. The final report will be presented to the Board in Summer 2026 for adoption. 

Project Timeline 

The project will move through four phases: national best practice review and gap analysis in winter 2025/2026, community engagement in spring, development of draft recommendations in spring and final recommendations summer of 2026. Recommendations will be presented to the Board for approval.

Engagement will focus on community-based organizations (CBOs) to solicit their insights into local travel needs and barriers faced by vulnerable populations.

What is Title VI?

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1964) ensures that no person is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, based on race, color, or national origin. Title VI is designed to protect minority and low-income populations from discrimination in public services, including transportation. Any transit agency that receives federal funds, like AC Transit, must comply with Title VI rules to ensure their services are fair and equitable. Compliance is required by law and is monitored by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).  

Transit agencies are required to set a disparate impact and disproportionate burden policies to measure whether proposed changes to service or fares would cause unfair or significant effects borne by minority populations and low-income communities. The policies should establish a threshold for determining the effects of these changes. If an analysis conducted by the transit agency shows that changes exceed these thresholds, the agency must consider alternatives or take steps to minimize negative effects. 

• More information about the District’s current policies for disparate impact and disproportionate burden can be found here: Board Policy (BP) 518 - Title VI and Environmental Justice Service.pdf)