Source code for Sound Transit light rail arrival display system (third party appeal)
| Tracking # |
PD16-411 |
| Submitted | Aug. 20, 2016 |
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Communications
From: Kevin Wallace
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to RCW Ch. 42.56 (Public Records Act), I hereby request the following records:
Full source code for Sound Transit's arrival display software as seen on screens located at the University of Washington and Capitol Hill stations as well as the name of the vendor, if any, hired to develop the software and any associated contracts and communications.
Note that this is similar to a request filed recently at <https://www.muckrock.com/foi/washington-54/source-code-for-sound-transit-light-rail-arrival-display-system-26073/>. I am a third party unaffiliated with the original request, but would like to appeal the rejection as I believe it is based on a mistaken interpretation of RCW 42.56.270(1), which only exempts disclosure that "would produce private gain and public loss". In this case, public disclosure would do the exact opposite: it would produce public good by making this software freely available to the public. The only party that might hold a perception of loss is the vendor, a private entity.
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 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Kevin Wallace
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 20, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 20, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 20, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Tennison, Leigh
This will confirm your request for full source code for Sound Transit's arrival display software as seen on screens located at the University of Washington and Capitol Hill stations, as well as the name of the vendor, if any, hired to develop the software and any associated contracts and communications.
We received your request on August 31, 2016 even though you stated you sent it before this. You can also submit records requests through our website following this link:
http://www.soundtransit.org/Contact-Us/Request-for-records/public-disclosure-request-form
Given our staffs' workload, vacation schedules, and the number of requests we are currently handling, we estimate that it will take another 4-5 weeks to identify and to gather additional responsive records. We will contact you when we have completed our search.
Sincerely,
Leigh Tennison
Assistant to Q'Deene Nagasawa, Public Records Officer
Sound Transit
401 S. Jackson Street
Seattle, WA. 98104
leigh.tennison@soundtransit.org<mailto:leigh.tennison@soundtransit.org>
T: 206.903.7104
F: 206.398.5222
From: Tennison, Leigh
Mr. Wallace~
We have reviewed your request and position/interpretation of RCW 42.56.270(1) with respect to release for the full source code for Sound Transit's arrival display software as seen on screens located at the University of Washington and Capitol Hill stations. You also requested the name of the vendor hired to develop the software.
The variable message signs and arrival display software were procured as part of the University Link track and systems construction contract. Sound Transit contracted with Stacy and Witbeck, Inc. for this contract. We are working at identifying any responsive documents to your request for contacts and communication documents to any subcontractors for this work.
We do not have the source code. The source code is retained by the vendor subcontracted with Stacy Witbeck.
Sincerely,
Leigh Tennison
Assistant to Q'Deene Nagasawa, Public Records Officer
From: Nagasawa, Q'Deene
Mr. Wallace~
Thank you for your email. We are still looking through emails in response to your request for communication documents to any subcontractors regarding the development of the display software as seen on the screens located at the University of Washington and Capitol Hill stations. We previously provided our response regarding your request for the source code-- that the source code is retained by the vendor subcontracted with Stacy Witbeck. (We do not have the contracts with the subcontractors to Stacy Witback).
For the remainder of your request for all communication concerning this work, we conducted a search through our emails for LK Comstock and Alstom. This resulted in 85,936 emails. We are finding that many of those emails are newsletter type emails and some are not related to the University of Washington or Capitol Hill Stations. It is taking us some time to go through that large number of emails to locate responsive emails. We have located 73 responsive emails (15.7 MG pst file) as a first installment. We still have 84,437 emails to review.
Please send $3.75 to cover copy and mail charges. Make your check payable to Sound Transit, 401 South Jackson and reference PD16-411 on your check. Once we receive payment we will copy the pst file to a CD and mail it to you. If you would rather review the records here at Sound Transit, please contact me to schedule an appointment during normal business hours.
If we do not receive payment or hear from you by January 6, 2016, we will conclude you no longer want access to the remaining records and will discontinue our search through those remaining emails and close your request file.
Sincerely,
Q'Deene Nagasawa
Q'Deene Nagasawa
Paralegal | Public Records Officer
Legal Department
Sound Transit
401 South Jackson
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 689-4924
Fax: (206) 398-5222
Connect with us
facebook.com/SoundTransit<http://www.facebook.com/SoundTransit>
twitter.com/SoundTransit<http://www.twitter.com/SoundTransit>
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From: Nagasawa, Q'Deene
Correction for date to respond by should be January 6, 2017.
Thank you.
Q'Deene Nagasawa
Q'Deene Nagasawa
Paralegal | Public Records Officer
Legal Department
Sound Transit
401 South Jackson
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 689-4924
Fax: (206) 398-5222
Connect with us
facebook.com/SoundTransit<http://www.facebook.com/SoundTransit>
twitter.com/SoundTransit<http://www.twitter.com/SoundTransit>
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From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
Please find enclosed a check for $3.75 to satisfy the fee associated with the attached public records request.
Thank you.
From: Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
From: Kevin Wallace
Hi,
Thanks so much for your help with this request! I really appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Kevin Wallace
From: Nagasawa, Q'Deene
We have the next installment ready for release. This installment contains 83 responsive emails (14.8 MG). Please send $3.75 to cover copy and mail charges. Make your check payable to Sound Transit, 401 South Jackson, Seattle, WA 98104 and reference PD16-411 on your check. Once we receive payment we will copy the records to a CD and mail it to you. If you would rather review the records here at Sound Transit, please contact me to schedule an appointment during normal business hours.
We still have 83,610 emails to review. Due to our staff's current workload and the number of requests we are currently handling, we estimate the next installment will be available in 5-6 weeks. However, if we do not receive payment or hear from you by May 12, 2017, we will conclude you no longer want access to the records and will close your request file.
Sincerely,
Q'Deene Nagasawa
Q'Deene Nagasawa
Paralegal | Public Records Officer
Legal Department
Sound Transit
401 South Jackson
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 689-4924
Fax: (206) 398-5222
Connect with us
facebook.com/SoundTransit<http://www.facebook.com/SoundTransit>
twitter.com/SoundTransit<http://www.twitter.com/SoundTransit>
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From: Kevin Wallace
Check is in the mail -- thanks!
From: Nagasawa, Q'Deene
We have the final installment ready for release. This installment contains 661 emails and attachments (170 MB). Please send $3.75 to cover copy and mail charges. Make your check payable to Sound Transit, 401 South Jackson, Seattle, WA 98104 and reference PD16-411 on your check. Once we receive payment we will copy the records to a CD and mail it to you. If you would rather review the records here at Sound Transit, please contact me to schedule an appointment during normal business hours.
If we do not receive payment or hear from you by September 4, 2017, we will conclude you no longer want access to the records and will close your request file.
Sincerely,
Q'Deene Nagasawa
Q'Deene Nagasawa
Paralegal | Public Records Officer
Legal Department
Sound Transit
401 South Jackson
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 689-4924
Fax: (206) 398-5222
Connect with us
facebook.com/SoundTransit<http://www.facebook.com/SoundTransit>
twitter.com/SoundTransit<http://www.twitter.com/SoundTransit>
[cid:image001.png@01CFB081.D1850820]
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image001
From: Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
Files
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