Sarah L. Ryley v. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (SPR 20221664)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records July 26, 2022 SPR22/1664 Julie A. Ciollo, Esq. Assistant General Counsel Records Access Officer Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 10 Park Plaza, Suite #7760 Boston, MA 02116 Dear Attorney Ciollo: On July 19, 2022, this office received your petition on behalf of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) seeking permission to charge for time spent segregating or redacting responsive records. G. L. c. 66, § 10(d)(iv). As required by law, it is my understanding that the MBTA furnished a copy of this petition to the requestor. G. L. c. 66, § 10(d)(iv). In a letter dated July 5, 2022, Sarah L. Ryley, of the Boston Globe, requested “…any reviews, reports, presentations, and cost assessments, pertaining to the condition of the existing Red and Orange Line trains, from Jan. 1, 2010, or the earliest date available in MBTA’s possession, through the date that the records in response to [the] request are retrieved.” Subsequently, I learned that Ms. Ryley narrowed her request. In a letter to the MBTA dated July 25, 2022, Ms. Ryley states the following: To further clarify my request, I am seeking significant or non-routine reviews, reports, presentations, and cost assessments, pertaining specifically to the conditions of the existing Red and/or Orange Line systems (versus a specific car), since Jan. 1, 2010. Hopefully, that will narrow the request, as I understand the conditions of the cars are reviewed quite frequently. If you still feel this would result in a large volume of records, please provide a more detailed breakdown of the records so that I may more knowledgeably narrow my request. Conclusion In light of Ms. Ryley’s July 25th letter, I find it unnecessary to opine on the MBTA’s fee petition. Further, this office encourages Ms. Ryley and the MBTA to continue to communicate to facilitate providing records more efficiently and affordably. See G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(vii). One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

Julie A. Ciollo, Esq. SPR22/1664 Page 2 July 26, 2022 Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Sarah L. Ryley