"Better Bus" initiative (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority)
| Multi Request | "Better Bus" initiative |
| Submitted | June 16, 2023 |
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Communications
From: Kelly Kauffman
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the DC Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Any and all records, including email communications, scientific papers and materials, underlying documentation and data, memos, briefings, etc, about the Market Assessment, which includes how well current bus service meets community needs and what customer trips could best be served by a redesigned transit network and Transit Service Assessment that includes how bus services operate and opportunities for improvement as apart of Phase 1 of the "Better Bus" initiative.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
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 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 15 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Kelly Kauffman
From: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has received your request for records.
More information on the PARP/Privacy process is available online at: https://www.wmata.com/about/records/.
From: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Good afternoon,
Our Counsel's office received your PARP request for documents related to Phase 1 of our Better Bus initiative. Due to the broad scope of the inquiry, I wanted to flag that many documents are already available at wmata.com/betterbus<https://wmata.com/initiatives/plans/Better-Bus/index.cfm>, as well as documents presented to the Board of Directors such as this April update<https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/board-pdfs/upload/3A-Better-Bus-Network-Redesign.pdf>. In order get the information you are looking for in a timely manner, I was wondering if you have any specific questions or information I could point you to. If you'd like the PARP office to continue processing this request in full, let me know as well. Thanks,
Ian Jannetta
Media Relations Manager - Metro
From: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Dear Ms. Kaufmann,
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) acknowledges and provides a partial response to your June 20, 2023, Public Access to Records Policy (PARP) request regarding the Better Bus Network Redesign. Specifically, you requested the following records:
"Any and all records, including email communications, scientific papers and materials, underlying documentation and data, memos, briefings, etc, about the Market Assessment, which includes how well current bus service meets community needs and what customer trips could best be served by a redesigned transit network and Transit Service Assessment that includes how bus services operate and opportunities for improvement as apart of Phase 1 of the 'Better Bus' initiative."
Please be advised that WMATA is an interstate compact agency created by the Commonwealth of Virginia, State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia, and not a D.C. agency. See Pub. L. No. 89-774, 80 Stat. 1324 (1966); Va. Code Ann. § 33.2-3100; Md. Code Ann., Transp. § 10-204; D.C. Code Ann. § 9-1107.1). Accordingly, WMATA is not subject to the D.C. Freedom of Information Act. See D.C. Code § 9-1107.1, § 77. Therefore, your request will be processed pursuant to WMATA's PARP.[1]
Partial Decision
WMATA has located the following public records related to your request available online at:
* https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/plans/Better-Bus/index.cfm
* https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/plans/Better-Bus/Resources.cfm
* https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/plans/Better-Bus/upload/Better-Bus_Phase-1-Engagement-Summary_FINAL.pdf
* https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/plans/Better-Bus/upload/Better-Bus_Phase-1-Analysis-Findings_FINAL-1.pdf
* https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/plans/Better-Bus/upload/BBNR_MarketAssessment_FINAL_012423.pdf
* https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/plans/Better-Bus/upload/BBNR_ExistingConditions_FINAL_011223-1.pdf
* http://bustransformationproject.com/resources/
* https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/board-pdfs/upload/11A-Better-Bus-Network-Redesign-Finalized.pdf
* https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/board-pdfs/upload/3B-Better-Bus-Network-Redesign.pdf
* https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/board-pdfs/upload/4A-Better-Bus-Network-Redesign-2.pdf
* https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/board-pdfs/upload/3A-Better-Bus-Network-Redesign.pdf
However, please be advised that WMATA is unable to continue processing your request as you have not provided a timeframe. PARP § 7.5 requires requesters to "describe the records that are being requested in sufficient detail to enable WMATA to locate them with a reasonable amount of effort." Please let us know if the records linked above satisfy your request. If they do not, please clarify what additional records you are seeking, and provide a timeframe for your request. If we do not receive a response by Wednesday, July 26, 2023, your request will be closed.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Although we are not yet able to provide any responsive records, we can impart the following general information regarding your request:
Time Period for Processing Requests
WMATA generally aims to respond to a request for records within 20 business days following receipt of the request. WMATA processes requests in the order that requests are received. Furthermore, additional processing time is required for requests that prove to be complex.
Exemptions
The PARP provides exemptions for certain types of data, including: (1) information that could compromise WMATA infrastructure or security; (2) information that is solely related to the internal personnel rules and practices; (3) information that is exempt by statute; (4) proprietary commercial or financial information; (5) intra-agency and inter-agency memoranda information which would not be made available by law to a party in litigation with WMATA; (6) information that, if released, would cause a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; (7) certain information compiled for law enforcement purposes; (8) registered SmarTrip® information; and (9) customer financial information. Generally, WMATA's response will not include any exempt information.
Appeal Rights
If you wish to appeal WMATA's decision, in accordance with PARP § 9.1, you may file a written appeal of the action with the Executive Vice President, External Relations (or designee) at PARP_Appeal@wmata.com<mailto:PARP_Appeal@wmata.com>, within 30 business days of the date of this decision letter. Further details about our appeals process can be found on our website.
Future correspondence should reference the request number noted in the subject line of this correspondence. If you have any questions, please contact Suraya Sabri at ssabri@wmata.com<mailto:ssabri@wmata.com> or 202-962-2058. If she is unavailable, please contact Richard Noh at RDNoh@wmata.com<mailto:RDNoh@wmata.com> or 202-962-2569.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Rashbaum
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Benjamin Rashbaum
Senior Counsel II
Legal Department
300 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
P: 202-962-1926
F: 202-962-2550
E: BRashbaum@wmata.com<mailto:BRashbaum@wmata.com>
This transmission is intended only for the proper recipient(s). It is confidential and may contain attorney-client privileged information or information prepared in anticipation of litigation. If you are not the proper recipient, please notify the sender immediately and delete this message. Any unauthorized review, copying, or use of this message is prohibited.
________________________________
[1] The PARP can be found on WMATA's website at https://www.wmata.com/about/records/public-records.cfm, under the section marked "Legal Affairs."
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From: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Dear Ms. Kaufmann,
As you did not provide the required clarification by the deadline below - July 26, 2023 - your request has been closed.
If you wish to appeal WMATA's decision, in accordance with PARP § 9.1, you may file a written appeal of the action with the Executive Vice President, External Relations (or designee) at PARP_Appeal@wmata.com<mailto:PARP_Appeal@wmata.com>, within 30 business days of the date of this decision letter. Further details about our appeals process can be found on our website.
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Sincerely,
Suraya Sabri
Associate Counsel
Legal Department
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
300 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
P: 202-962-2058
F: 202-962-2550
E: ssabri@wmata.com<mailto:ssabri@wmata.com>
THIS TRANSMISSION IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE PROPER RECIPIENT(S). IT IS CONFIDENTIAL AND MAY CONTAIN ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED INFORMATION OR INFORMATION PREPARED IN ANTICIPATION OF LITIGATION. IF YOU ARE NOT THE PROPER RECIPIENT, PLEASE NOTIFY THE SENDER IMMEDIATELY AND DELETE THIS MESSAGE. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REVIEW, COPYING, OR USE OF THIS MESSAGE IS PROHIBITED.
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