As a direct recipient of federal funds, Torrance Transit System (Torrance Transit) has developed its Overall Goal for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation in its Federal Fiscal Years 2013/15 DOT-assisted contracts (FTA). However, in response to race-neutral policy directives issued by the Department of Transportation, Torrance Transit will implement its DBE Overall Goal race neutrally. In a wholly race-neutral program, the recipient does not set race conscious contract goals on any of its U.S. DOT-assisted contracts for which DBE subcontracting possibilities exist. Torrance Transit will actively participate in availability/disparity studies designed to assess the existence of discrimination or its effects within the regions marketplace and will utilize these studies in future goal setting applications.
Therefore, effective April 24, 2006, Torrance Transit has implemented a wholly race-neutral DBE program in direct response to the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision in the Western States Paving Co. v. United States & Washington State Department of Transportation.
As a part of the goal-setting public facilitation process, the City is required to solicit public comment, relative to the goal calculation and rationale. Accordingly, for your review and that of your memberships, Torrance Transit has enclosed the Public Notice advising businesses of its goal, and the availability to review the goal calculation, rationale and to provide input and comments. Jim Mills, DBE Liaison Officer, will serve as the contact person for coordinating the review of the goal-setting process and can be contacted at 310-618-6291.
Torrance Transit is fully committed to fulfilling the spirit and intent of the U.S. DOT DBE Rule, Title 49 CFR Part 26 in all of Torrance Transit's DOT-assisted contracts. Your support of these efforts is greatly appreciated.
Files related to Torrance Transit's FFY2013-2015 DBE Plan can be seen below:
Public Notice
DBE Outreach Letter
Torrance Transit FFY2013-2015 Goal Methodology
