ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Function/Organization
The Department of Economic Opportunity and Government Relations is responsible for the development, implementation, coordination, and monitoring of all Disadvantaged, Minority and Women-Owned Enterprises (DMWBEs), Government Relations, and Outreach programs. The department advocates the agency's commitment to promoting a working environment, which recognizes and values the diverse social profile of the DART service areas, customers, stakeholders, contractors and employees. The department strives for equitable representation and advancement of members of all protected groups at all levels of employment and inclusion of disadvantaged businesses in all agency purchasing and contracting activities.The Vice President directs the overall activities of the department and reports directly to the President/Executive Director. There are currently two functional areas of the department:
- Economic Opportunity
- Government Relations
Economic Opportunity Division
This division develops, manages and implements processes for ensuring that Disadvantaged, Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (DMWBEs) are aware of and educated on the procedures for competing and bidding for purchases and contracts at DART. The primary goal of the agency's minority business program, in existence since 1987, is to help achieve the agency's annual DMWBE contract and procurement goals. The DMWBE Program has been developed in accordance with DART's Board Policy and applicable state and federal regulations. Economic Opportunity is comprised of three functional sections:- Contract Compliance is charged with the responsibility of promoting DART's contracting opportunities to disadvantaged and minority businesses. The DMWBE Program has been developed in accordance with DART's Board Policy and applicable state and federal regulations. This section monitors contract compliance, goal setting and minority-business participation on DART contracts.
- Outreach is responsible for reaching out to disadvantaged and minority businesses to ensure equitable participation opportunities with DART for minority, low-income, other protected category communities to ensure equity in all of DART's activities - including contracting, employment, and environmental justice. This section works consistently with the various ethnic chambers to maintain open communication, awareness and access to DART's programs.
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VI is charged with the responsibility of ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VI. The Environmental Justice issues focus on ensuring equal access to services and equity in amenities. Our goal is to ensure that transportation-dependent, underprivileged and minority populations are treated fairly in all DART services and activities. This section monitors activities and programs such as:
- Service Standards
- Pullouts
- Level boarding
- Amenities
- Service Planning
- Route planning
- Downtown Dallas transit study
- NW corridor build-out
- Title VI
Government Relations Division
This division encompasses all interaction between DART and its stakeholders, including local, state, and federal elected officials. Government Relations is responsible for maintaining communications with governmental entities and organizations including the U.S. Congress, Texas Legislature, DART member cities and various local, regional, state and federal agencies.Government Relations is comprised of three functional sections, each focused on a specific level of government:
- Local/Member City Relations acts as liaison to elected officials serving DART's 13 member cities, the four county governments within the DART service area, and other local and regional bodies (e.g. chambers of commerce). In addition, this section facilitates the exchange of information between local officials and DART's Economic Opportunity & Government Relations Department, the Executive Management Team (EMT), and the DART Board of Directors.
- State Relations acts as liaison to elected officials at the state level, most notably members of the Texas Legislature. This section focuses on the achieving of state implementation of DART's legislative agenda by building good relations with our state delegation and coordinating DART's state lobbying team. State Relations also monitors the activities of statewide organizations such as TEX-21, the Texas Transit Association, and regional organizations such as the Regional Transportation Council and the Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition.
- Federal Relations acts as liaison to elected officials at the federal level, including Dallas area members of the United States Congress. The activities of administrative bodies such as the Federal Transit Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation are tracked, and relationships with officials within those bodies are maintained through the management of DART's federal lobbyist. Federal grants and other discretionary funds for DART projects are pursued annually.
