Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments
Public Involvement
Public Participation Plan
Major transportation planning projects of RiverCOG includes a public involvement component, specific to that project. In addition to public meetings, RiverCOGs public involvement work often includes additional outreach and engagement efforts such as pop-up events, advisory committees, separate meetings with individuals, stakeholders, and interested groups, as well as media updates.
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RiverCOGs Public Participation Plan describes procedures to ensure that all members of the public have access to information and opportunities to participate in the transportation planning process for the region. The Public Participation Plan is reviewed annually and was last updated in 2020. We intend to begin the development of an update soon.
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The Public Participation Plan can be reviewed and downloaded at the link below:
Public Participation Plan Summary (English)
Public Participation Plan Summary (Español)
Title VI
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the Federal Law that protects individuals and groups from discrimination based on their race, color, and national origin in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance.
RiverCOG is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation, denied benefits, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity, based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. As a recipient and sub-recipient of federal financial assistance, RiverCOG complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and related statutes and regulations in all transportation programs and activities.
Any person who believes they have been subjected to discrimination by RiverCOG based on their race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability may file a Title VI complaint. Complaints maybe filed directly with RiverCOG or to the Federal Funding agency.
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Complaints must be filed in writing and signed by the complainant or a representative and should include the complainants name, address, and telephone number or other means by which the complainant can be contacted. Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act.
For additional information on Title VI or filing a Title VI complaint please submit your request or complaint in writing to:
Lower Connecticut River Valley COG
Title VI Coordinator
145 Dennison Road
Essex, CT 06426
State and Federal Contacts:
Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Title VI complaints
Connecticut Department of Transportation
Title VI Coordinator
2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06131-7546
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Title VI complaints
Federal Highway Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
Office of Civil Rights
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
8th Floor E81-105
Washington, DC 20590
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Title VI complaints
Federal Transit Administration
Office of Civil Rights
Attention: Complaint Team
East Building, 5th Floor – TCR
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Title VI documents can be reviewed and downloaded at the links below:
Title VI Brochure (English)
Title VI Brochure (Español)
Policy and Complaint Form (English)
Policy and Complaint Form (Español)
Americans with Disability Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities. The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability just as other civil rights laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The ADA guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to enjoy employment opportunities, purchase goods and services, and participate in state and local government programs.
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Per Federal guidance (28 CFR §35.150(d)), all municipalities that employ 50 or more persons must develop an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan to outline steps and a schedule for making sidewalks, crosswalks, and public walkways accessible to persons with disabilities. The first step in developing such a plan is to perform a Self Evaluation to identify physical obstacles that limit the accessibility of individuals with disabilities.
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The 2023 Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) are final guidelines for pedestrian facility accessibility, published by the U.S. Access Board on August 8, 2023, to address new construction and alterations. The final rule took effect in January 2025. Key updates include new requirements for audible and vibrotactile pedestrian signals, specific design options for multi-lane roundabouts, and detailed standards for clear spaces, crosswalk slopes, and on-street parking.
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The following are resources related to ADA Self Evaluations, Transition Plans, PROWAG and other ADA requirements:
UCONN’s Technology Transfer (T2) Center