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The Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) is the public transportation agency for five suburbs located approximately 15 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul: Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, and Rosemount in Dakota County, and Savage in Scott County. The MVTA is one of six independent transportation agencies formed in the late 1980's under state legislation that allowed outer-ring suburbs to "opt-out" of centrally provided transportation services.
The MVTA Governing Body
An eight-member board consisting of elected officials or their designee(s) and one member-at-large governs the MVTA. Each of the five cities appoints one member to the MVTA board and one city staff person as an alternate board member. The Apple Valley, Burnsville, and Eagan board members collectively appoint the member-at-large and an alternate. The remaining two seats are filled by a Scott County and a Dakota County commissioner. Another County Commissioner serves as the alternate County representative, while County staff assist the MVTA as members of the Technical Work Group.
MVTA Funding
The MVTA is funded with a portion of the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET) - the sales tax paid when new cars are purchased.
Through grant applications, the MVTA has received federal funding and regional bond moneys for various capital improvement projects as well.
Passenger fares account for over 30 percent of the cost of operating the MVTA system.
See sidebar for additional Information about MVTA Partnerships and Cooperative activities.
Commitment to Fairness
The Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) pledges that you will have access to all our programs, services and benefits without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or socioeconomic status.
The MVTA will not tolerate discrimination by its employees or by those who receive federal funds from MVTA. Minnesota Valley Transit Authority prohibits all discriminatory practices that may result in an individual:
- Being denied any service, financial aid or benefit provided under a program to which he or she may be otherwise entitled;
- Being held to different standards or requirements for participation;
- Experiencing segregation or separate treatment in any part of a program;
- Being subject to distinctions in quality, quantity or manner in which a benefit is provided;
- Experiencing discrimination in any activities conducted in a MVTA facility built in whole or part with Federal funds.
Further, MVTA will:
- Avoid or reduce harmful human health and environmental effects on minority and low income populations;
- Ensure full and fair participation by all communities, including low income and minority populations in the transportation decision-making process;
- Prevent the denial of reduction in or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority and low income populations.
These rights are guaranteed to you under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which says in part:
No person in the United State 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. (42 U.S.C. Sec200d)
In addition, Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, 1994 provides:
Each Federal agency shall make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations.
If you believe that you have been discriminated against because of your race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or socioeconomic status, you may file a written complaint with the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority at this address:
Executive Director
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority
100 E. Highway 13
Burnsville, MN 55337
Or you can contact us by phone at 952-882-7500 or by e-mail at mvta@mvta.com. |
