Background/Analysis/Issues:

DVRPC is committed to upholding the principles and intentions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and related nondiscrimination mandates in all of its work, including products, communications, public input, and decision-making processes. Language barriers may prohibit people who are Limited in English Proficiency (also known as LEP persons) from obtaining services, information, or participating in public planning processes. To better identify LEP populations and thoroughly evaluate the organization’s efforts to provide meaningful access, DVRPC produced a Limited English Proficiency Plan or Language Access Plan (LAP) in 2019. 

The 2019 plan follows the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) four-factor analysis and five-step implementation plan guidance, originally released in 2005. Since adoption of the 2019 plan, staff have implemented many of the identified measures and annually review new American Community Survey (ACS) data to assess the need for LAP modifications.

Although, the Language Access remains a requirement for MPOs’ regional planning processes, recent federal policy changes and the rescission of Executive Order #13166 “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency,” have created uncertainty about whether DVRPC needs to adopt a new plan. Given the value this plan provides to the region’s residents, DVRPC seeks to ensure DVRPC’s LAP remains current and aligns with best practice. Therefore, staff have carried out the four-factor analysis, reviewed the five-step implementation, and surveyed staff to determine frequency of contact. Additionally, staff reviewed peer MPOs language access plans to understand if anything in the 2019 plan should change.

Staff will present the updated analysis. If adopted by the DVRPC Board, the memo will be added to the 2019 plan as a preface and the full document will be republished. Staff will continue to evaluate the data and the organization’s measures on an annual basis. 

The DVRPC Board adopts DVRPC’s Language Access Plan as part of the Commission’s Title VI and Public Participation Programs.