San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District
Draft Open Data Resolution

Introduction

TheSanFrancisco BayAreaRapidTransitDistrict(District)iscommittedtoincreasing transparency,accountability,efficiency,public engagement,andsupporting technological innovationandeconomicgrowth.TheDistrictfurtherrecognizesthateverycitizen hastheright toprompt,efficientservicefromtheDistrict.

Inaccordancewiththatcommitment,theDistrict'seffortsinprovidingOpenDatafor BARTtransit services,includingscheduleandrealtimearrivals,providesamodelon whichthe Districtcan continuetobuild.

TheDistrictrecognizesthataccesstopublicinformation,includingaccesstopublicdata, promotesahigherlevelofcivicengagementandallows citizenstoprovidevaluablefeedbackto Districtstaffandpolicymakers.Onegoalof anOpenDatapolicyistoproactivelyprovide informationcurrentlysoughtthroughPublicInformationActrequests,therebysavingthe Districttimeandmoney.

Incommitmenttothespirit ofOpenGovernment,the Districtwill considerpublic informationtobeopenbydefaultandwillproactivelypublish data and data containing information,consistentwith relevantpublicrecordslaw. Consistent with that commitmentthe Districtrecognizesthatinformationtechnologies,including web-basedandotherInternet applicationsand services,areanessentialmeansfor OpenGovernmentandgoodgovernment generally.Theprotectionof privacy,confidentiality,and securitywillbe maintainedasa paramountprioritywhilealsoadvancingtransparencyandaccountability throughOpenData.

Section1: Definitions

  1. “Data”meansstatistical,factual,quantitative,orqualitativeinformationthatisregularly maintained orcreatedbya DistrictDepartmentor acontractor,vendororotherentity on behalfof a DistrictDepartment.
  2. “OpenData” meansdatathat isavailableonline,inan openformat,withnolegal encumbranceson useorreuse.
  3. “Openformat”meansany widelyaccepted,nonproprietary,platform-independent, machine-readablemethodforformattingdata,whichpermitsautomatedprocessingof such dataand facilitatessearchcapabilities.
  4. “Dataset”meansanamedcollectionof relatedrecords,withthe collectioncontaining dataorganizedorformattedin aspecificorprescribedway,oftenin tabularform.
  5. “Protectedinformation”means any datasetorportion thereofto whichadepartment maydenyaccesspursuanttoCalifornia statutesor anyother law,ruleorregulationor on thebasisthatthedisclosuremayconstitutean infringementonathirdparty'sright toprivacy.
  6. “Sensitiveinformation”means any data which,if publishedon theOpen Data web portal, couldraiseprivacy,confidentialityor securityconcernsorhavethepotentialto jeopardize publichealth,safety,orwelfaretoanextentthatisgreaterthanthe potential publicbenefitof publishingthatdata.
  7. “Publishabledata”meansdatawhichisnotprotectedor sensitiveandwhichhasbeen preparedforrelease on the Open Data web portal.

Section2:OpenDataInitiative

  1. Constant withthisresolutionand thegoals specifiedherein,theDistrict willdevelopand implementpracticesthatallowit to:
  2. Releasepublishable, non-private,Districtdata,makingit freelyavailableinopen formats,license free and fully accessibleto thebroadestrangeof users;
  3. Publishhighquality,updateddata withdocumentation(includingmetadataand asummaryof theprocessesthat wereusedtocreate specificdatasets);
  4. EstablishandmaintainanOpen Data web portalthatprovidesa central location forpublic reviewof publishedDistrictdata;
  5. Employopen source softwaresolutionswheneverpossibleandshareopen source code inpublicrepositories;
  6. Providebroad disclosureof publicinformationwhileappropriatelysafeguarding protectedandsensitiveinformation;and
  7. Encourageinnovativeuses of theDistrict’spublishabledatabyagencies,the public,andotherpartners.
  8. Thedevelopmentandimplementationofthesepracticesshallbethe responsibilityoftheOfficeof theChiefInformationOfficer.
  9. Thisresolutionand the goals specifiedhereinshallapplytoanyDistrictdepartment, office,administrativeunit, board,advisorycommitteeandanyotherdivisionsof the District(“department”).

Section3:Governance

  1. Implementationof thisOpenDataInitiative Resolution willbeoverseenbytheOffice of theChiefInformationOfficer.
  2. TheOfficeof theChiefInformationOfficershallworkwithall departmentswithin theDistrictto:
  3. Identify a leadOpenDatacoordinatorwithineachdepartment.Thecoordinator willberesponsiblefor the oversightandmanagementof thatdepartment's participation in theOpenData initiative,includingrequestsforbudgetor resourcestosupportthat participation. Each coordinator’s contact information and area of responsibility shall be published on the Open Data web portal;
  4. Develop and publish, on the Open Data web portal, acomprehensiveinventoryof datasetsheldby eachDistrict Departmentand keep the inventory up to date, consistent with the requirements of SB 272, Section 6270.5 of the California Public Records Act;
  5. Develop, implement and publish, on the Open Data web portal, a processfordeterminingwhetherinformationis private,sensitiveor otherwiseprotectedand establish whethertheinformation maybepublished;the relativelevel ofrisk and publicbenefitassociated with potentiallysensitive,non-protectedinformationsoastomakeadetermination aboutwhetherand howtopublishit;
  6. WorkwiththeOffice of theGeneralCounselto determineif theinformation identifiedby thedepartmentsmay,legally,be madepublically available;
  7. Develop, implementand publish, on the Open Data web portal, a processforprioritizingthereleaseofdatasetstothe Open Data web portal,includinghistoricand archivalmaterial,whichtakesinto accountnewand existingsignals ofinterestfromthepublic(suchasthe frequencyof PublicInformationActrequests),the District'sprogrammatic priorities,existing and futureopportunitiesfordatause in the publicinterest and in the interest of the District’s internal stakeholders, contractors and external partners, andcost;
  8. Establish, implement and publish, on the Open Data web portal, processesforpublishingdatasetstotheOpen Data web portal,includingprocessesforensuringthat datasetsarereviewedforuse-appropriateformats, quality,timeliness,andexclusion of protectedandsensitiveinformation;
  9. Work with other local governments and public agencies, and through standards bodies and other consensus groups, to identify and use the same unique identifiers across all data sets;
  10. Optimizethequalityand timelinessof data collectiontoavoid theinefficiencies createdbypaper-basedsystemsandallowstructureddatatobe createdinthe natural courseof business;
  11. Develop, publish and overseearoutinelyupdated,publictimelinefornewdataset publication; and
  12. Ensurethatpublisheddatasetsareavailablefor bulk downloador viaAPIs (ApplicationProgrammingInterfaces)toenable searchandretrieval.
  13. Encourage interpretations of published data, including data visualizations and interactive tools, to facilitate public involvement and transparency.
  1. Toensurethatthecommitmentsand goals asset forth in thisResolutionaremet,the Officeof theChiefInformationOfficer willactivelyencouragedepartmentand public participationbyprovidingregularopportunitiesfor feedbackand collaboration.

Section4: CentralOnlineLocationforPublishedData

  1. TheDistrictwillendeavortocreateand maintaina publicly availablelocationon the District’swebsiteorin anothersuitableonlinelocation wherethe District’spublished datawillbeavailablefordownload.
  2. Datasetspublished on theOpen Data web portal shallbeplacedintothepublicdomain.

Section5:OpenDataReportandReview

  1. Within one yearof theeffectivedate of thisResolution,and onceayearthereafter,the Officeof theChiefInformationOfficershallsubmit tothe District Boardof Directorsan annualOpenDataReport.Thereportshallinclude an assessmentof progresstowards achievementof the goalsof this Resolution,alistof datasetscurrentlyavailableon the Open Data web portal,andadescriptionandpublicationtimelinefordatasetsenvisionedto bepublished on theportalin thefollowingyear.
  2. Duringthereviewandreportingperiod,theOffice of theChiefInformationOfficershouldalsomakesuggestionsforimprovingtheDistrict’sOpenDatamanagement processes inordertoensurethattheDistrict continuestomovetowardsthe achievementof theDistrict'scommitment.