GRTA complies with the federal Civil Rights Act in the operation of Xpress bus service, but four parking lots lack required amenities, according to results of a self-review the GRTA board discussed Wednesday.

The issue is a lack of amenities such as ADA parking, pavilions, security cameras, and call boxes, the review determined.

Otherwise than the parking lot issues, the review determined that GRTA complies with the provision of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as administered by the Federal Transit Administration.

“We’re doing a pretty good job, if we have that small a number that doesn’t meet the standards,” said GRTA board Chairman Sonny Deriso, Jr. “I understand the focus is on those areas where we need to make improvements, and we will make them.”

GRTA’s self-review determined that all routes comply with a provision regarding equity in the age of buses.

The law requires that no bus that serves a minority route be more than three years older than the average bus in the system. A minority route is defined as one in which the minority ridership is 15 percent greater than the system average.

GRTA’s review determined the age of the average bus is 6.8 years. The age of buses on minority routes is 5.5 years to 8.6 years, the review showed.

The three routes that fall short and their missing amenity are:

• Stockbridge: Lacks a call box.
• Stockbridge: The portion of the Brandsmart parking lot leased by GRTA for overflow parking lacks ADA parking spaces and pavilions.
• Hamilton Mill: Lacks message signs, security cameras, and call boxes.
• Hiram: Lacks a fare pavilion, security cameras, and call boxes.

GRTA’s board on Wednesday authorized the GRTA staff to do what’s necessary to bring the Brandsmart lot into compliance. The parking lot serves as an overflow lot.

Kirk Fjelstul, GRTA’s acting executive director, said cost isn’t an issue. The review is so new that GRTA hasn’t discussed the issue with Brandsmart. GRTA board member B.J. Mathis said the lot could be relocated if the issue can’t be resolved, possibly to a nearby Garden Ridge home décor store.

The section where GRTA did fall short is in transit amenities, meaning parking lots. Standards vary according to who owns the parking lot, according to GRTA:

• State-owned lots must provide: Passenger pavilions, fare pavilion, digital message signs, schedule displays, benches, ADA parking spaces, emergency call boxes, security cameras, waste receptacles.
• Privately-owned lots must provide: Passenger shelters and ADA parking spaces.
• Local government-owned lots have no requirements.

GRTA is required to comply with the Title VI program because it receives funding from the FTA. The FTA requires entities that receive FTA money to maintain compliance reports and to submit a board-approved copy every three years.

The purpose of the Title VI program is three-fold, according to the FTA:

1. “Ensure that the level and quality of public transportation service is provided in a nondiscriminatory manner;
2. “Promote full and fair participation in public transportation decision-making without regard to race, color, or national origin;
3. “Ensure meaningful access to transit-related programs and activities by persons with limited English proficiency.”