Civil Rights
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It is considered one of the crowning legislative achievements of the civil rights movement. Its impact on transportation can be seen in how service is funded, designed, operated, and communicated to the general public, including people with disabilities. The initial act included twelve titles, each addressing a specific area. For example, Title VI prohibits discrimination by recipients of Federal financial assistance on the basis of race, color, and national origin, including the denial of meaningful access for limited English proficient (LEP) persons. RLS provides its clients with technical assistance regarding Title VI program development and implementation. RLS also provides such service in related areas, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the FTA’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program, and Equal Employment Opportunity requirements. In addition, RLS reviews all these areas as part of RLS’ Compliance Monitoring projects, which ensure that our clients achieve compliance with all applicable rules and requirements.
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
Since the passage of Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) over 32 years ago, RLS & Associates, Inc. (RLS) continues to be recognized as an authority on ADA implementation and compliance, providing technical assistance and support to federal and state agencies, transit providers, and local communities to ensure that not only the law is enforced but that the spirit of ADA is carried out. To this end, RLS provides training, technical assistance, and regulatory reviews. Further, RLS staff has served as a Litigation Consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice, Disability Rights Section—providing technical assistance on ADA compliance and remedy. RLS has also developed, evaluated, and assisted in the implementation of Complementary Paratransit Plans for a number of transit systems and communities.
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
While not part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) provides a vehicle for increasing participation from minority business enterprises (MBEs) in state and local procurement. For transit, that means ensuring that DBEs/MBEs are afforded the maximum opportunity to compete for federally funded contracts, exclusive of vehicle purchases. RLS has assisted state DOTs and local transit systems in the development of DBE Programs, including methodologies and goals.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 imposed Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) requirements to ensure no individual would be denied access to employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, or national origin. Compliance with these requirements focus on communication of an entity’s EEO compliance with the public via job notices, prospective employees through job applications, and existing employees via workplace notices and training. RLS has assisted clients with the development of each of these communication tools to ensure EEO compliance. RLS staff also review each of these components as part of on-site compliance monitoring reviews. RLS has worked directly with city and state officials and staff to develop new position descriptions, job postings, civil service tests, etc.
Limited English Proficient (LEP)
Each FTA subrecipient’s Title VI Program must assure meaningful access to its programs and services by individuals who are considered Limited English Proficient (LEP). This element of the Title VI Program has two main components: a Four Factor Analysis and a Language Assistance Program. This Title VI Program element can prove to be most challenging to both State DOTs and rural and small urban transit systems and is one area that RLS has provided a variety of assistance. For example, RLS conducts reviews to ensure that the Four Factor Analysis has been conducted properly including the identification of LEP individuals in the service area, determining the frequency with which these individuals come into contact with the program, and that sufficient outreach has made to LEP individuals. In addition, RLS has assisted clients with the development of a compliant Language Assistance Plan, in particular how the client monitors, evaluates, and updates the plan.
Title VI
Many Civil Rights requirements with which State DOTs and local transit systems must comply are included in Title VI (please see the summary for this subtopic). RLS assists State DOTs in the development, update, and on-going implementation of the state’s required Title VI program, reviewing subrecipient Title VI programs and policies, and ensuring Title VI compliance for all State subrecipients.
Staff Expertise
Amy Crossin Edelman
Amy Crossin EdelmanAssociateMs. Crossin’s diverse legal and educational background brings a unique perspective to her work in transit-related compliance. In addition to her two years of direct Federal compliance work in the banking industry and EEOC, she has worked an...
Russ Parish
Russ Parish Associate Mr. Russ Parish works out of the RLS Arkansas Office and manages State RTAP projects for New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. He is also a member of the RLS Drug and Alcohol Compliance Monitoring team. An accomplished and...
Matt Bussey
Matt BusseyDirector of Compliance InitiativesMatt Bussey works out of the Washington, DC office of RLS & Associates, Inc. He has over 10 years of experience practicing law, predominantly in the areas of corporate law and regulatory compliance. Matt has over seven...
Robbie Sarles
Robbie L. SarlesPresidentMs. Robbie L. Sarles is President and founder of RLS & Associates, Inc., a transit consulting firm headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, with 40 staff and offices in Indiana, North Carolina, Illinois, Vermont, Georgia, Texas, Arkansas, and...
Ray Boylston
Mr. Ray BoylstonSenior AssociateMr. Ray Boylston works out of the RLS Wake Forest, North Carolina office. He has over 30 years of experience in transit planning, management, operations, compliance, and finance at the state, county, and municipal levels,...
Laura Brown
Laura BrownChief of Business Development/Director of Planning Initiatives Ms. Laura Brown works in San Antonio, Texas and is the Director of Planning Initiatives for RLS’ coordination and planning projects as well as the Chief of Business Development. Ms. Brown has a...
Rich Garrity
Rich GarritySenior Associate/Compliance Subject Matter ExpertMr. Rich Garrity is located in the RLS Wilmington, North Carolina office. He has over 44 years of experience in transit and paratransit planning, operations and management evaluation,...
Charles Glover
Charles Glover Senior Associate Mr. Charles Glover works out of the RLS Raleigh, North Carolina office and has over 43 years of public transportation experience, with extensive expertise in the planning and development of coordinated transportation services and...
Sean Oswald
Sean OswaldChief of Operations/Director of Drug & Alcohol Initiatives Mr. Sean Oswald is located in the Dayton Headquarters. He joined RLS in 2011, bringing over five years of GIS analysis, management, and training experience. Building on that...
Julie Schafer
Julie SchaferDirector of State InitiativesMs. Julie Schafer is located in the Dayton, OH Headquarters. A former Section 5311 transit manager of a seven-county public transit system in rural Indiana, she has over 22 years of experience, 15 years of that in transit...
Kelly Shawn
Kelly ShawnSenior AssociateMr. Kelly Shawn is located in the RLS Alexandria, Virginia office. With over 36 years in the transit industry, Mr. Shawn is an experienced trainer, facilitator, and project manager with extensive expertise in small urban, rural, and tribal...
Christy Campoll
Christy CampollSenior AssociateMs. Campoll currently serves in assignments as Project Manager, Lead Planner, and Researcher for RLS’ planning team, as well as Reviewer for compliance engagements. A former transportation vice president, Ms. Campoll...
Gregory Harnett
Gregory (Greg) HarnettSenior AssociateMr. Greg Harnett works in the Dayton headquarters and serves as a lead reviewer on the RLS compliance team. He is a key contributor to the Federal Transit Administration’s Comprehensive Oversight Review and Technical...
Zach Kincade
Zach KincadeAssociateMr. Zach Kincade works out of the RLS Texas Office. He has over 16 years of experience as a project manager and Lead Analyst for RLS data collection and survey analysis projects. He also provides technical support to RLS senior staff...
3131 S. Dixie Hwy. Suite 545, Dayton, Ohio 45439
Contact us for more information about RLS & Associates, Inc., including our full qualifications, project descriptions, resumes, and references.
All contents © 2024 RLS & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.