Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (“RFTA”)
Number and Percentage of LEP Persons in Our Area Permanent Population
U.S. Census Data
The U.S. Census provides information to assist in estimating the number of limited English speakers in the permanent population. While the 2010 Census has provided up-to-date data, the information for small urban areas are not yet available. Table 1 presents information for Pitkin, Garfield and Eagle Counties on Language Spoken at Home by Ability to Speak English, based on
the information in Data Set 2005-2009.
TABLE 1 - Individuals Speaking English "Not Well" or "Not at All"
Pitkin County Garfield County Eagle County
Data Category # % # % # %
Total Population 17,148 100% 56,389 100% 52,197 100%
Populaton Speaking English
"Not Well" or "Not at All" 627 3.7% 3,378 6.0% 5,157 9.9%
(5 years old & over)
Populaton Speaking English "Not Well" or "Not at All"
Spanish 586 93% 3,343 99% 5,063 98%
Other Indo-European 23 4% 0 0% 39 1% Asian and Pacific Islander 18 3% 35 1% 55 1%
Other 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Total 627 100% 3,378 100% 5,157 100%
Source: U.S. Census 2010, population 5 years old and older, speaking another language at home, who speak English "Not well" or "Not at Alll."
As the table shows, a small percentage of persons in the permanent population of Pitkin County, in the year 2005-2009, had difficulty speaking English: 3.7% of all persons age 5 and over or 627 persons. However, in Garfield County and especially in Eagle County both the numbers and percentages were higher: 6.0% (3,378 persons) in Garfield County and 9.9% (5,157 persons) in Eagle County. Of those with difficulty, 93-99%, were Spanish speakers, primarily low income and residing in the Roaring Fork Valley for higher paying jobs than they could find elsewhere. Many of these workers are transit dependent.
APPENDIX E
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (“LEP”) PLAN (continued)
Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (“RFTA”)
School District and Other Local Data
U.S. Census data indicates a moderate need to respond to individuals in the permanent
population of our service area who have difficulty with English. Those who do have difficulty are nearly all Spanish speakers. Therefore, for this LEP Plan, additional local contacts were not made to clarify the need among the permanent population of our service area. We know our community is more diverse than the Census data indicates therefore, we are committed to monitoring LEP needs among the permanent population over time – depending on shifts in the workforce population, immigration enforcement, etc..
Visitors
Another component of the potential need for special services for LEP individuals may be within our visitor population. As a year round resort community, the Aspen area attracts individuals from all over the world. The majority of visitors to our area have very high incomes, are highly educated and speak English quite proficiently. Visitors also include seasonal winter and summer workers, who for the most part are also proficient in English, but may benefit more than guests from the LEP assistance.
Summary
Given the nature of the permanent population of RFTA’s service area and the large numbers of international visitors who may have Limited English Proficiency, RFTA is committed to addressing LEP needs, particularly those of the lower income, transit dependent population.
Nature, Frequency and Importance of LEP Contact
The nature and importance of LEP contact is high for public transit services. Strategies to address LEP needs have been developed and will continually be reviewed, and improved where needed.
APPENDIX E
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (“LEP”) PLAN (continued)
Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (“RFTA”)
Hire multi-lingual customer service staff and/or drivers;
Provide Spanish language messages on advertisements, websites and other public
information directing Spanish speakers to a specific phone number answered by a Spanish speaker;
Distribute “Basic Spanish for Transit Employees” to drivers and customer service staff at
in-service training, as appropriate;
Post schedules and schedule changes in Spanish
Publish a bi-lingual “How to Ride Guide” and distribute bilingual public notices on temporary stop closures and detours;
Conduct diversity training classes for RFTA employees of all levels and departments; Distribute bi-lingual passenger surveys on a bi-annual basis.
IV.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE LEP EFFORTS
RFTA’s LEP Plan includes the following elements:
Identifying LEP Persons Who Need Language Assistance
To identify future LEP needs with respect to transit service, RFTA will undertake the following: Review Census updates as they become available;
Periodically review perceived LEP needs with drivers and other first-line staff;
Make periodic or as needed contacts with school districts and other community agencies that may know of LEP persons or groups;
Make periodic or as needed contact with large employers and local resort properties, lodges and hotels to determine need for LEP materials;
Distribute bi-lingual passenger surveys on a bi-annual basis;
Provide opportunities for LEP participation at public meetings, through advertising and conduct of meetings, as appropriate.
Language Assistance Measures
RFTA will adopt the following language assistance measures, should the need arise: Utilize the web-based AltaVista Babel Fish for phrase translation into or from multiple
languages;
Become familiar with Language Line Services at http://www.languageline.com;
Identify other community resources such as agencies serving LEP persons which may have resources to share;
APPENDIX E
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (“LEP”) PLAN (continued)
Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (“RFTA”)
Monitoring and Updating Plan
RFTA will monitor and update this plan every 2-3 years, or at shorter intervals if necessary. The update process will include:
Reviewing the LEP Plan with RFTA staff ;
Reviewing demographic changes in RFTA’s service area;
Documenting any LEP-related complaints received since the last LEP update.
Disseminating the LEP Plan
Providing updates to agencies serving LEP populations in RFTA’s service area, and for individual requests;