Accessibility and civil rights
Vehicle accessibility
All JTRAN transit vehicles have wheelchair lift or ramps and a wheelchair securement area with space for 2 to 4 wheelchairs. Mobility devices must have a working brake system.
If you are in a wheelchair, the JTRAN bus driver will:
- Operate any lift, ramp, or “kneeling” feature as needed
- Help you safely board the bus
- Help you secure your wheelchair before the bus starts moving
- Help you safely exit the bus
For your safety, JTRAN recommends using your own seat belt to secure yourself in your wheelchair, as well as the shoulder and lap belts provided on the vehicles.
Buses can “kneel”
Most JTRAN buses can “kneel” by lowering the front floor. This makes it easier for people with mobility limitations to get on and off the bus. If you need the bus to kneel, let the driver know when getting on or off the bus.
One Personal Care Attendant (PCA) rides free
Any assistance beyond lift and ramp operation, boarding, securing, and exiting, would require the use of a PCA. One PCA can ride free of charge.
If a wheelchair lift or ramp doesn’t work
If a JTRAN bus without a working wheelchair lift or ramp arrives at your bus stop, JTRAN will send a transit operations supervisor or JTRAN paratransit bus within 30 minutes to take you directly to your destination free of charge.
To check on status of the vehicle, call 601-952-1000 or dial 711 through the Mississippi Relay Service for TDD and TTY users.
Information accessibility
All public-facing JTRAN transit information materials are available in accessible formats upon request by emailing transitstaff@city.jackson.ms.us, or by calling 601-952-1000 or dialing 711 through the Mississippi Relay Service for TDD and TTY users.
ADA Reasonable Accommodations and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
- ADA Reasonable Accommodation Requests
The Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) has recently revised the rules for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The revised rules provide for public transit organizations to make reasonable modifications and accommodations to policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination, and to ensure accessibility to individuals with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities may request that JTRAN make a reasonable accommodation in order for that individual to fully use transit services. All requests should be made in advance by filling out and submitting a Reasonable Accommodation Request form to JTRAN. Please see information below to obtain and file a request. JTRAN will accommodate requests provided that:
- Fundamental nature of the service, program or activity is not altered;
- It does not cause a direct threat to the health or safety of others;
- It does not result in an undue financial and administrative burden; or
- The requestor would not be able to fully use the service provided by JTRAN without the modification.
There are several ways to obtain and submit a Reasonable Modification/Accommodation request form:
- Download the Reasonable Modification/Accommodation Request form (PDF)
- Fax a request to 601-326-5416
- Send an email to the ADA Coordinator at: transitstaff@city.jackson.ms.us
- Call 601-952-1000 (TDD/TTY: 711 through Mississippi Relay Service).
- Mail a request to: 1785 Hwy 80 W, Jackson, MS 39204
Reasonable Accommodation Request form
Download the Reasonable Modification/Accommodation Request form (PDF)
- ADA Consent Decree Transportation Coordinator
Christine F. Welch is the ADA Consent Decree Transportation Coordinator. The ADA Consent Decree Transportation Coordinator is responsible for implementing and administering the City’s obligations under this Consent Decree and will be responsible for JATRAN’s overall compliance with title II of the ADA and section 504.
She is the liaison between the individuals in the Department of Planning and Development, the City, and the contractor who will carry out the City’s obligations under the Consent Decree and shall be a resource to these individuals on ADA issues. The ADA Consent Decree Transportation Coordinator shall also participate in reviewing and revising any of the City’s policies relating to the ADA and riders with disabilities and the curriculum for employee training with regard to ADA obligations and riders with disabilities.
The ADA Consent Decree Transportation Coordinator shall be responsible for handling all complaints from riders including ensuring that disability-related problems and complaints. The ADA Consent Decree Transportation Coordinator shall have the authority to incur incidental expenses, for example taxi fare, to ensure that riders are not stranded without transportation to their destination.
The ADA Consent Decree Transportation Coordinator will serve as the City’s primary contact on accessible transportation issues for the public.
The ADA Consent Decree Transportation Coordinator shall retrieve the ADA complaints entered into the customer complaint database. The ADA Consent Decree Transportation Coordinator shall investigate and ensure that all complaints are resolved. The complaint investigation may include interviewing relevant persons, such as bus operators, garage managers, mechanics, reservationists, dispatchers, and the complainant, and reviewing relevant records, such as bus dispatch, lift cycling, reservation log, and Alternative transportation records. The ADA Consent Decree Transportation Coordinator shall send the complainant a written response within one (1) month advising him or her of the status of the complaint.
The ADA Consent Decree Transportation Coordinator shall record in the rider complaint database the resolution of each complaint. The ADA Consent Decree Transportation Coordinator shall evaluate whether the complaints indicate systemic ADA-related problems or trends and report them to the Director of Planning and Development.
ADA Coordinator for Consent Decree
Christine F. Welch
Deputy Director of TransportationDepartment of Planning & Development
Transit Services Division
1785 Hwy 80 W, Jackson, MS 39204
Phone: 601-326-5417
Fax: 601-326-5416
transitstaff@city.jackson.ms.us
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.ADA Consent Decree
- Discrimination and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance. Specifically, Title VI provides that “no person in the United States shall, on the ground 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” (42 U.S.C. Section 2000d).
City of Jackson (JTRAN) is committed to a program of non-discrimination in the conduct of its business and in the delivery of equitable and accessible transportation services. The responsibility for day-to-day operations of the Title VI program, including the investigation of Title VI complaints, has been assigned to the Title VI Coordinator. However, all City of Jackson (JTRAN) employees share in the responsibility for implementing this program.
Within 180 days of the alleged discrimination, the complainant may be submitted via email or U.S. mail by sending the attached City of Jackson (JTRAN) Title VI Complaint Form. A complainant may file a complaint at any time with City of Jackson (JTRAN) and/or directly with the Federal Transit Administration by filing a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, Attention: Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th Floor-TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Complaints must state, as fully as possible, the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged discrimination. In cases where the complainant is unable or incapable of providing a written statement but wishes City of Jackson (JTRAN) to investigate alleged discrimination, the Title VI Coordinator will arrange for an interview to enable a verbal complaint of discrimination. If necessary, the interviewer will assist the person in converting verbal complaints to writing. The complainant or the representative completing the form must sign complaint before action is taken.
Your feedback is important and will allow us to continue to serve all our transit populations. Comments can be email to transitstaff@city.jackson.ms.us or by calling (601) 326-5417 to speak with the Title VI Coordinator. Dial for TTY service. Comments can also be mailed to:
City of Jackson (JTRAN)
Attn: Title VI Coordinator
1785 Hwy 80 W, Jackson, MS 39204For more information in another language, please call (601) 326-5417. Para más información en español, por favor llame (601) 326-5417.
City of Jackson Title VI Complaint Form