Title VI

We are certified and fully comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For more details, review the Notice to the Public (PDF) or the Aviso al Público (PDF). We are committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of its services, on the basis of race, color, or national origin. No person or group of persons shall be discriminated against with regard to the routing, scheduling, or quality of transportation service that SYVT furnishes on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Frequency of service, age and quality of vehicles assigned to routes, quality of stations serving different routes, and location of routes may not be determined on the basis of race, color, or national origin, in full compliance with Title VI.  


Si se necesita información en español, llame al (805) 688-5452.


If you believe that you, individually, or as a member of any specific class or persons, have been subject to discrimination on the grounds of race, age, disability, religion, color, sex, or national origin with regard to any Santa Ynez Valley Transit (SYVT) transit service, program, or facility, you may file a complaint.  A complaint must be filed with 180 days after the date of the alleged discrimination, unless the time for filing is extended by the City.  There are numerous ways for you to file a complaint:


  • File a written complaint (PDF) with our Title VI Program Administrator at the City of Solvang at 1644 Oak Street, Solvang, CA 93463. Obtener unformulario de queja conforme al Título VI (PDF).
  • File a written complaint (PDF) directly with the Federal Transit Administration Title VI Program Coordinator, FTA Office of Civil Rights, East Building, 5th Floor – TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590.
  • Call SYVT Customer Service at (805) 688-5452 with your complaint.  
  • Visit our main SYVT office located at 595 Alamo Pintado Rd., Suite C, Solvang, CA 93463.
  • Email your complaint to our SYVT Title VI Program Administrator at mattv@cityofsolvang.com.

At a minimum, all complaints filed MUST provide the following information:

  1. Complainant's name
  2. Complainant's address
  3. Complainant's phone number
  4. Complainant's email
  5. Detailed description of complaint/incident
  6. Date of complaint/incident
  7. Time of complaint/incident
  8. Location of complaint/incident
  9. Route number (if applicable)
  10. Name(s) and contact information of witnesses (if applicable)
  11. Any other information relevant to the complaint
  12. Signature, including the date signed, of person submitting complaint

ALL complaints must be signed and dated.  Complaints received with incomplete information may result in delayed investigations and responses. 


Every complaint of discrimination is taken seriously and investigated fairly.  Our Title VI Complaint Procedure is as follows: Procedimiento para Quejas Título VI

  1. Within 10 business days of receiving a complaint, our SYVT Title VI Program Administrator or his/her designee shall review the complaint to determine if the City of Solvang has jurisdiction. The complainant will receive an acknowledgement letter specifying whether or not the complaint will be investigated by the City.  
  2. If the complaint submitted is complete and within the City’s jurisdiction, a case will be opened.  A case number and investigator will be assigned.
  3. If necessary, an investigation will be conducted and completed within 30 days of receipt of the formal complaint (30-day Rule).  If a time extension to the 30-day Rule is required, the complainant will be notified in writing of the reason for the extension.
  4. If additional information is required to resolve the case, the City may contact the complainant.  The complainant has 10 business days from the date of the letter to send the requested information to the Title VI Administrator investigator. If the investigator is not contacted by the complainant or does not receive the additional information within 10 business days, the City may administratively close the case.
  5. Following the investigation, our Title VI Administrator will issue one of the following letters to the complainant: 
    • Closure Letter that summarizes the complaint allegations and states that there was no Title VI violation.  Consequently, the case will be closed.  A case may also be closed if the complainant no longer wishes to pursue the case.
    • Letter of Finding (LOF) that summarizes the complaint allegations and the investigation regarding the alleged incident. The LOF also explains whether any disciplinary action, additional training of the staff member, or other actions, will occur.
  6. If the complainant is unsatisfied with the decision, he/she has 30 days from the date of the City’s Closure Letter or LOF to appeal to the City of Solvang City Council or its designee. The complainant is entitled to review the denial, to present additional information and arguments, and to separation of functions (i.e., a decision by a person not involved with the initial decision to deny eligibility). The complainant is entitled to receive written notification of the decision of the appeal and the reasons for it. The complainant may also file a written complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration, Title VI Program Coordinator, FTA Office of Civil Rights, East Building, 5th Floor – TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590.