The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin in full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and all related statutes.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states:

"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 subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of its transit services on the basis of race, color or national origin, as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

History of Title VI

The landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a product of the growing demand during the early 1960s for the Federal Government to ensure uniformity and permanence of nondiscrimination policy against racial discrimination.

In calling for its enactment, President John F. Kennedy identified "simple justice" as the justification for Title VI:

"Simple justice requires that public funds,to which all taxpayers of all races contribute, not be spent in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes, or results in racial discrimination. Direct discrimination by Federal, State, or local governments is prohibited by the Constitution. But indirect discrimination, through the use of Federal funds, is just as invidious; and it should not be necessary to resort to the courts to prevent each individual violation."

President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law on July 2, 1964.

Discrimination Prohibited by Title VI

There are many forms of illegal discrimination based on race, color, or national origin that limit the opportunity of minorities to gain equal access to services and programs.

Among other things, in operating a federally-assisted program the MTA and its sub-recipients cannot on the basis of race, color, or national origin, either directly
or indirectly:

  • Deny program services, aids, or benefits
  • Provide a different service, aid, or benefit, or provide them in a manner differently than they are provided to others
  • Segregate or separately treat individuals in any matter related to the receipt of any services, aid, or benefit

Service, aids or benefits can include: routing, scheduling, and quality of transportation services (i.e., frequency of service, age and quality of vehicles assigned to routes).

How To File a Complaint

Any person who believes that he or she has, individually, or as a member of any specific class of persons, has been excluded from participation in, been denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any MDOT MTA service, program or activity, and believes the discrimination is based upon race, color, or national origin has the right to file a formal complaint in accordance with the following procedures. Individuals may file a Title VI complaint up to 180 days from the date of the alleged discrimination, by completing and submitting the agency's Title VI Complaint Form to MTA’s Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance Programs. For more information or assistance on filing complaint, please call the MTA Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance Programs at 410-767-3944; TTY 410-539-3497; or MD Relay: 7-1-1.

The complaint should include the following information:

  • Your name, address, and how to contact you (i.e., telephone number, email address, etc.)
  • How, when, where, and why you believe you were discriminated against. Include the location, names and contact information of any witnesses.

The complaint may be filed in writing to:

Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance Programs
Maryland Transit Administration
6 Saint Paul Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Complaint forms may be faxed to MTA's Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance Programs at: 410-333-1015.

A person may also file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration at:

FTA Office of Civil Rights
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590

Title VI Resources

Feel free to use the following resources to find more detailed information on Title VI:

MDOT MTA Resources

Equity analyses are shared via the website in a timely manner, once finalized, reviewed, and approved. For equity analyses completed during the 2017 to 2020 Title VI Program period, please click here (33MB PDF).

Please note that implementation of MARC and Commuter Bus fare changes was delayed to June 2021 due to COVID-19.

Service Analysis

Fare Analysis

Facility Analysis

Federal Government Resources

For more information, or to request this information in an alternate format or translated into another language, please contact the department listed below.

Spanish: Para más información, o para pedir esta información en un formato alternativo o traducido a otro lenguaje, por favor contacte el departamento nombrado abajo.

MDOT MTA Transit Information Contact Center
410-539-5000
866-743-3682
TTY 410-539-3497
Maryland Relay Users Dial 7-1-1