Uber/Lyft Contracts (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA))

Dear Lauren Gurley, Your public records request has been entered and given the case number R000377-081820 for tracking purposes. To Whom It May Concern:

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

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

Public reports show that rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft have contracts with public transportation authorities (https://nytransit.org/resources/transit-tncs/205-transit-tncs, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/07/technology/uber-train-bus-public-transit.html). Therefore, we request the following records from all trains stations in your jurisdiction:

1) All rules, regulations, presentations, PowerPoint files, flyers, signs, and other guidance about the use of staging areas, bathrooms, monetary investments, or the subsidizing of rides, by rideshare and taxi drivers (Uber, Lyft, Via, black car companies, etc.).
2) Copies of all complaints, suggestions, emails, or other communication about your stations that mention “rideshare,” “driver,” “taxi,” “Uber,” “Lyft,” “Via,” "ride-hail," "dispatch," "TNC," "for-hire vehicles," and "black car".
3) Contracts with any Lyft, Uber, Via, other rideshare companies.
4) Any photos or videos taken by the authority or submitted to the authority of staging areas or restrooms intended to be used by rideshare drivers.
5) Cleaning records for bathrooms used by rideshare drivers. Health inspections associated with these bathrooms.
6) Any communications related to promotional materials, discounts, “free rides,” integration (API or otherwise) with Lyft, Uber, Via, other rideshare companies.
6) Any communications, including emails, text messages, formal and informal agreements, and contracts with employees or representatives of Uber, Lyft, Via, about staging areas, restroom and facility use by their employees, contractors, or rideshare partners.
7) Any internal deliberations, emails, presentations, meeting notes about the above issues.

The requested files will be used in the course of reporting for Motherboard, VICE Media's science and tech site (www.motherboard.vice.com).

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

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 filed electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not, and for the request to be filled on a rolling basis.

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

Sincerely,

Lauren Gurley

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, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not 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,

Lauren Gurley

Upload documents directly: https://https://www.muckrock.comhttps://www.muckrock.com/ ALERT: Please be advised that at the current time, there may be a delay in the processing and fulfillment of your request– this includes the timely receipt of requests, search/compilation of responsive records, and responses to public records requests. Thank you for your anticipated understanding and cooperation as we work through these issues. 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

--- Please respond above this line ---

August 19, 2020
Lauren Gurley MuckRock News DEPT MR 100946 Somerville, MA 02144
Re: Public Records Request for “To Whom It May Concern:

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

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

Public reports show that rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft have contracts with public transportation authorities (https://nytransit.org/resources/transit-tncs/205-transit-tncs, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/07/technology/uber-train-bus-public-transit.html). Therefore, we request the following records from all trains stations in your jurisdiction:

1) All rules, regulations, presentations, PowerPoint files, flyers, signs, and other guidance about the use of staging areas, bathrooms, monetary investments, or the subsidizing of rides, by rideshare and taxi drivers (Uber, Lyft, Via, black car companies, etc.).
2) Copies of all complaints, suggestions, emails, or other communication about your stations that mention “rideshare,” “driver,” “taxi,” “Uber,” “Lyft,” “Via,” "ride-hail," "dispatch," "TNC," "for-hire vehicles," and "black car".
3) Contracts with any Lyft, Uber, Via, other rideshare companies.
4) Any photos or videos taken by the authority or submitted to the authority of staging areas or restrooms intended to be used by rideshare drivers.
5) Cleaning records for bathrooms used by rideshare drivers. Health inspections associated with these bathrooms.
6) Any communications related to promotional materials, discounts, “free rides,” integration (API or otherwise) with Lyft, Uber, Via, other rideshare companies.
6) Any communications, including emails, text messages, formal and informal agreements, and contracts with employees or representatives of Uber, Lyft, Via, about staging areas, restroom and facility use by their employees, contractors, or rideshare partners.
7) Any internal deliberations, emails, presentations, meeting notes about the above issues.

The requested files will be used in the course of reporting for Motherboard, VICE Media's science and tech site (www.motherboard.vice.com).

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

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 filed electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not, and for the request to be filled on a rolling basis.

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

Sincerely,

Lauren Gurley

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, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not 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,

Lauren Gurley

Upload documents directly: https://https://www.muckrock.comhttps://www.muckrock.com/ Our Case No.: R000377-081820
Dear Ms. Gurley,
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (“MBTA”) is in receipt of your request for public records dated August 18, 2020 regarding the above-referenced matter; this request was received by our Records Access Officer on August 18, 2020.
In response to your request, I am advised that the MBTA does not have contractual relationships with Transportation Network Companies concerning specific train stations. Therefore, the MBTA does not possess or control any records that are responsive to your requests concerning that type of arrangement/location-based work. Under the Public Records Law, the records custodian is not required to create a record in response to a public records request. See G. L. c. 66, § 6A(d). The duty to comply with requests for records extends to those records that exist and are in the possession, custody, or control of the custodian of records at the time of the request. See G. L. c. 66, § 10(a)(ii). Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Julie Ciollo Assistant General Counsel/ Records Access Officer