The Federal Highway Administration's Office of Civil Rights has ordered the City of Beavercreek to revisit its decision denying RTA's request to add several bus stops near the Mall at Fairfield Commons. The FHA says Beavercreek's decision is in violation of the Civil Rights Act.
Two years ago, RTA in Dayton wanted to add bus stops on Pentagon Boulevard near the Mall at Fairfield Commons and the newly constructed Soin Medical Center. That request was unanimously denied by Beavercreek's City Council even though the city's compliance staff had approved the RTA's proposal's citing that they met Beavercreek's compliance standards.
The Dayton-based church organization Leaders for Equality and Action, also know as LEAD, filed a complaint about the bus stop denial in 2011. Lead alleged that the city of Beavercreek failed to comply with the Title VI section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The FHA ruled this week in LEAD's favor, stating that, "African- Americans have faced discriminatory impact as a result of the city's decision."
The FHA says that the city has 90 days to comply with the ruling and the RTA can resubmit it's request for the bus stops.
The Ohio Department of Transportation will oversee the city's response and assist it in the process.
If the city ignores the FHA's ruling, it stands to lose over $10 million in federal funding for highway construction projects over a five-year period.
LEAD is planning a protest walk at noon on Saturday across the I-675 overpass on North Fairfield Road.
The organization says the walk is to encourage the city of Beavercreek to move quickly on the bus stop installations.