About Us

The Office of Civil Rights and Labor Relations develops, implements, and monitors the department's fair employment practices. It is responsible for reviewing and processing all requests for reasonable accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It handles all appeals pertaining to Special Transportation Service (STS), pursuant to ADA.

• Learn more about Special Transportation Service.

In addition to representing labor negotiations between the County and specific labor unions, the unit has the responsibility of monitoring all grievances filed by employees. The four types of grievances that can be filed are:

• Transport Workers Union (TWU)
• Government Supervisors Association of Florida (Supervisory Employees and Professional Employees) GSAF
• The American Federation of State County Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
• Career Service

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

The department's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program is primarily funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The department is committed to carry out the DBE Program and to meet the stated objectives, including nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT assisted contracts in MDT's transit programs; creating a level playing field on which DBE firms can compete fairly, and ensuring that MDT's DBE Program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law.

• Learn more about the program

Equal Employment Opportunity

The department is firmly committed to ensuring all employees are afforded the opportunity to work in an environment free of harassment and unlawful discrimination. It is also important that all employment actions are conducted in a manner consistent with the departments Equal Employment Opportunity Plan.

• Learn more about Equal Employment Opportunity

As a Miami-Dade County department, we encourage public involvement and participation in the development of transportation programs and services, conducting interactive presentations with communities across the county. Our mission is to monitor and help develop a proactive public involvement process that provides complete information, timely public notice, full public access to key decisions, and supports early and continuing involvement of the public in developing transit issues.

A Federal Mandate

The Federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century requires transit agencies to involve the public to a much greater extent in the planning and implementation of transportation projects. The department has adopted an involvement plan in an effort to foster two-way communication and trust between the county government and the citizens of Miami-Dade County.

Goals and Objectives

• To ensure that public transit programs reflect community values and benefit all segments of the community equally.
• Inform the public, to the maximum extent possible with available resources, of opportunities to participate in the transportation decision-making process and of their role in transportation planning and/or implementation.
• Involve the public by providing opportunities early and often in the transportation planning and decision-making processes.
• Reach out to all demographic communities that make up the PTP planning area, so that everyone has the opportunity to participate in the development of transportation and services.

How We Will Accomplish This:

• The Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee acts as a public involvement advisory board by offering the public an opportunity to present issues and concerns at their regularly scheduled meetings, with the active involvement of MDT.
• Organize and manage a speakers bureau.
• Hold public workshops, meetings, forums, town hall meetings, etc.
• Involve the entire community throughout the planning and implementation process of projects and issues.
• The 311 Call Center provides residents with information regarding services and programs.
• The department maintains a comprehensive website to provide the public with easily accessible up-to-date information as well as the ability to contact and provide feedback.
• In accordance with Municipal Code Sec. 2-316, the Miami-Dade Commission on Disabilities Issues serves in an advisory capacity to the County Commission and administration regarding the transportation needs of persons with disabilities.

Public Involvement Initiative Plan

Our public involvement strategy uses various techniques to inform and involve the public.

Informing the Public

• Memos announcing meetings and other public involvement events.
• Press releases - notices of public involvement events distributed to local news media.
• Distribution of marketing materials - includes items such as notices.
• Fliers - created for special events such as workshops, etc.
• Publications - brochures to acquaint the public with the initiative.
• TV and radio appearances - to educate the public regarding transportation issues.
• Newspaper articles - submission of articles publicizing transportation planning activities and issues.
• Newsletter articles - submitted for publication in local government newsletters.
• Presentations to civic groups, educational institutions, etc., in conjunction with a plan update or for general information.

Involving the Public

• Responding to inquiries from the public in person, by phone or email, or in writing - part of the staff's responsibilities.
• Web page with email to staff capability.
• TV and/or radio appearances with call-in questions from viewers and listeners - provide more of an opportunity to receive feedback.
• Public meetings and forums - announced by display ad and press release; opportunity for an individual or group to express opinions on specific topics.
• Workshops - a gathering of people to analyze transportation issues and participate in developing solutions; includes community workshops
• Participation in community events already scheduled, such as festivals.
• Transportation fairs or displays at the mall.
• Surveys or public response to comment forms - an opportunity for feedback.
• Transportation summit - a meeting with the community to inform the public and solicit comments.
• Community outreach - taking transportation planning and implementation to the people.

Benefits of Public Involvement

Transit Public Involvement staff is dedicated to understanding the needs of the community and how different communities use the transportation systems and supporting public involvement in the transportation planning process by listening to the public. This understanding helps in the development of  initiatives and services to better address those needs.

The overall environmental policy provides a roadmap for the Department to improve and protect the environment and the health and safety of our employees, customers and the general public. The Department is committed to achieving its environmental goals by utilizing sound environmental management practices that include:

• Exceeding compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal environmental regulations through best management practices.
• Establishing waste minimization and pollution prevention programs to prevent or reduce impacts to the environment.
• Establishing management systems and controls for environmental compliance assurance and risk/liability management.
• Streamlining operations and management systems by periodically evaluating the achievement of targeted environmental objectives.
• Providing continuous training and communicating environmental policies and programs to employees.

In addition, we are committed to implementing pollution prevention programs and continually improving environmental performance to minimize environmental issues. Our Environmental Policy is available to both employees and the general public.