Request ID: FOI-2700-2324 Date published: 21 November 2023
You asked
Please could you release the full PTAL and TIM datasets used on TfL’s WebCAT tool?
• Please could you release every iteration of the data since 2015, for when the scores for each gridsquare have been recalculated up until 2023?
• Please could you release any reports compiled using WebCAT data analysing changing trends/scores in PTAL/TIM that have been produced since 2015 too.
• Please could you ensure the datasets are supplied in a machine-readable format, eg, CSV, JSON, or XML.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2700-2324
Thank you for your request which we received on 30 October 2023, asking for information about public transport accessibility level (PTAL) data.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You specifically asked:
• Please could you release every iteration of the data since 2015, for when the scores for each grid quare have been recalculated up until 2023?
We can provide this data in CSV as well as GIS files, and can extract it for the following years 2015, 2019, 2020 and 2023. The data wasn't updated annually in the past, which resulted in some years missing.
We also have a direct inbox for these type of data requests ([email protected]), also shown at the top of the WebCAT page. However, there is currently a slight delay in responding to these requests.
• Please could you release any reports compiled using WebCAT data analysing changing trends/scores in PTAL/TIM that have been produced since 2015 too.
Unfortunately to gather and compile all the necessary reports and historical data from the last nine years, analysing the data behind Time Mapping (TIM), would exceed the ‘appropriate limit’ of £450 set by the Freedom of Information (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. To further extract and compile the iteration data for the required years, would of course increase the processing time required to complete your request.
Under section 12 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to comply with requests if we estimate that the cost of determining whether we hold the information, locating and retrieving it and extracting it from other information would exceed the appropriate limit. In this instance, we estimate that the time required to answer your request would exceed 18 hours which, at £25 per hour (the rate stipulated by the Regulations), exceeds the ‘appropriate limit’.
To help bring the cost of responding to your request within the £450 limit, you may wish to consider narrowing its scope so that we can more easily locate, retrieve and extract the information you are seeking. You should identify the information that you want as clearly and concisely as you can, specifying the types of document that you are looking for. You might also consider limiting your request to a fewer years or geographical area.
Please note that we will not be taking further action until we receive your revised request.
In the meantime, if you have any queries or would like to discuss your request, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Eva Hextall FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
