Sumner Ave redesign bike lanes

Dear George Schneeloch,
Your public records request (see below) has been automatically entered, and assigned our Reference Number R000766-080323 for tracking purposes. Please note that your request is deemed received on the first business day after it has been entered in accordance with the Massachusetts Public Records Law; this is an automated response and does not mean it has been viewed by our department if received outside of non-business hours. To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

Emails and other communications about bicycle lanes on Sumner Ave in Springfield, MA from 2023.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is not made for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

George Schneeloch

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed. Click Here to View Your Request Thank you for using the MBTA’s Public Records Center. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

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August 17, 2023 George Schneeloch MuckRock News, DEPT MR150176 Boston, MA 02115 Re: Public Records Request for “ Emails and other communications about bicycle lanes on Sumner Ave in Springfield, MA from 2023." Our Case No.: R000766-080323 Dear Mr. Schneeloch,
The MBTA is in receipt of your request for public records dated August 03, 2023 regarding the above-referenced matter.
Based on your initial request, there is potentially a large volume of responsive records that would result in a large fee estimate, as allowed for by the Public Records Law. See G.L. c. 66, s. 10(d).
Pursuant to 950 CMR 32.06(1)(b), "requests for public records shall include a reasonable description of the requested record to the records access officer so that he or she can identify and locate it promptly." Although your request seeks records "about bicycle lanes," it is unclear which specific aspects of bicycle lanes on this road that you are interested in.

In order to provide any records efficiently and affordably, are you able to narrow and/or clarify your request? For example, are you seeking a certain topic related to bicycle lanes, do you have certain mailboxes in mind, and/or can you narrow the date range? See G.L. c. 66, s. 10(b)(vii) (an agency may suggest a reasonable modification of the scope of the request if doing so would enable the agency to produce records sought more efficiently and affordably).

Please contact us in writing in an effort to clarify, or assist in the modification of the scope of, your request so that we may more efficiently or affordably accommodate you. We will await your response before doing any further work on this request.
Sincerely,

Stephen Shorey
Senior Counsel
MassDOT/MBTA Office of the General Counsel

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Good Afternoon, Thank you for the clarification. Given that the employees you name in your August 24th email are MassDOT employees, I suggest submitting a new request directly to MassDOT for these emails. Accordingly, I will close this request but feel free to let me know if you have any questions or concerns about that approach.
Sincerely, Stephen Shorey
Senior Counsel MassDOT/MBTA Office of the General Counsel