Legal Policy

Terms of Use and Privacy

Indy Connect would like to take an opportunity to inform about the types of information Indy Connect and its partner agencies collect online when you visit IndyConnect.org, how we may use that information, whether we disclose it to anyone, and your choices regarding our use of, and your ability to correct, that information.

Our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy are subject to change from time to time, so please check back periodically. These policies do not extend to external sites which may be linked to the Indy Connect Site or which contain non-Indy Connect content. Our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy explain the following regarding the treatment of data collected on our Site:

1. What information we collect
2. Why we collect your information
3. How we use your information
4. Sharing your information
5. Use of cookies on this site
6. Protecting your information
7. Links to other Web sites
8. Children’s privacy protection
9. Changes to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
10. Trademarks and service marks
11. Reservation of proprietary rights
12. Contact us

1. What information we collect

The information collected on our Site generally falls into the following two categories: Personally Identifiable Information and Non-Personally Identifiable Information.

• Personally Identifiable Information: This refers to information that lets us know the specifics of who you are. The Personally Identifiable Information we collect when you use our Site may include:
• your name
• mailing address(es)
• phone number(s)
• e-mail address(es)
• your comments and questions

We may request some Personally Identifiable Information when you submit a comment form on this site or correspond with Indy Connect in other ways.

Non-Personally Identifiable Information: This refers to information that does not by itself identify a specific individual. The non-personally identifiable data we collect when you visit our Site may include the Uniform Resource Locator (URL1) of the pages you visit on our Site and our Internet Protocol (IP2) address. This Privacy Policy and Terms of Use contain further information about how we use cookies and other technology to collect this data.

We do not connect the Personally Identifiable Information and Non-Personally Identifiable Information we collect on our Site.

2. Why we collect your information

Indy Connect’s primary goal is to collect public feedback on a draft transportation plan for Central Indiana. We need your participation! As such, we ask visitors to our Site to submit feedback and to ask questions via comment forms. Our primary goal in collecting information is to ensure a future transportation plan truly reflects the needs and considers the interests of all Central Indiana residents. As required by federal law, we seek the feedback, comments, recommendations and questions from citizens, affected public agencies, representatives of public transportation employees, freight shippers, providers of freight transportation services, private providers of transportation, representatives of users of public transportation, representatives of users of pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities, representatives of the disabled, and other interested parties .

We use your Personally Identifiable information to keep in touch with you and keep you informed of ongoing developments related to the Indy Connect initiative. We use Non-Personally Identifiable Information on an aggregated basis to help us understand how visitors use our Site and to measure interest in the various pages. We use this information to improve the content of our Site and to make our Site easier to use.

3. How we use your information

We gather and use information in a number of ways, including the following:

Surfing: We collect certain Non-Personally Identifiable Information when you visit our Site. We collect this information to help run our Site more efficiently, to gather broad demographic information and to monitor the level of activity on our Site. We may use cookies and other technology to collect this information.

Online comment submissions: We collect Personally Identifiable Information from customers who complete comment forms on our Site. We use this information to improve our services, keep people informed of ongoing developments related to Indy Connect, and ultimately to shape a draft plan that reflects the needs and considers the interests of Central Indiana residents. We welcome your involvement and invite public comment through IndyConnect.org and other channels.

Newsletters and e-mails: We collect Personally Identifiable Information when you sign up to receive newsletters, e-mails, and other information from Indy Connect. We use this information to provide you with the information you request.

Contact information: If you contact us, we may keep a record of your correspondence or comments, including Personally Identifiable Information, in a file specific to you. We use this information to help us provide better service in the event you contact us again.

4. Sharing your information

IndyConnect.org will not rent, sell or give away any Personally Identifiable Information entered into the website to third parties for marketing or mailing list purposes. However, Your Personally Identifiable Information may be shared as required by the Indiana Public Records Act or, for a third party to process the request. We may be required to disclose Personally Identifiable Information pursuant to lawful requests, such as subpoenas or court orders, to prevent fraud or other illegal activities perpetrated through our Site, or as otherwise required by law.

Indiana Public Records Act: We may be required to maintain many documents under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act, but we do not collect personal information for any purpose other than to respond to you or for other purposes required by law.

All information collected or submitted may be subject to disclosure pursuant to the Indiana Access to Public Records Act. In accordance with Indiana public record statutes, we may be required to disclose the information you submit. If you use one of our online forms, the information you provide is up to you. If you do not provide your name or other information, it may be impossible for us to refer, respond to, or investigate your comment or request.

For more information on the Indiana Access to Public Records Act, click here. Visit the web page for the Indiana Public Access Counselor, by clicking here, or to visit the web page for the City of Indianapolis Public Access Counselor, click here.

5. Use of cookies on this site

A "cookie" is a small data file transferred by a website to your computer's hard drive. You are sent cookies when you surf IndyConnect.org, fill out online comment forms, sign up for newsletters, or request other information. Accepting IndyConnect.org cookies does not give us access to your Personally Identifiable Information, but we can use the cookies to identify your computer. The aggregate information collected permits us to analyze traffic patterns on our Site. This can enable us over time to provide you with a better experience on our Site by improving the content and making it easier to use.

Most browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually refuse cookies, or selectively accept certain cookies, by adjusting the preferences in your browser. If you turn off cookies, though, there may be some features of our Site that will not be available to you and some Web pages may not display properly. You can find information on popular browsers and how you can adjust them to control cookies at the following Web sites:

Microsoft Internet Explorer: http://www.microsoft.com/info/cookies.htm
Netscape Navigator: http://www.netscape.com/legal_notices/cookies.html

6. Protecting your information

Indy Connect and its partner agencies acknowledge your trust and are committed to protecting the information you provide us. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain accuracy, and to ensure proper use of information, we have employed physical, electronic, and managerial processes to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

Indy Connect is extremely sensitive to the information gathered through its Site. Our Site has security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. Our server is located in a secure environment.

7. Links to other web sites

Parts of our Site contain links to third-party websites for your convenience and information. If you use these links, you will leave the IndyConnect.org website. When you access a non-IndyConnect.org Web site, even one that may contain the IndyConnect.org logo, please understand that we do not control the content and are not responsible for the privacy practices of that site. We suggest that you carefully review the privacy policies of each site you visit and any related policies concerning the use of cookies.. This Privacy Policy does not cover the information practices of those Web sites linked to our Site. These other sites may send their own cookies to users, collect data, or solicit personal information.

8. Children's privacy protection

Indy Connect and its partner agencies believe that protecting children's privacy online is extremely important. IndyConnect.org respects national and international laws, including the Children's On-line Privacy Protection Act ("COPPA"), which applies in the United States. IndyConnect.org is not directed to children under the age 13, and Indy Connect does not knowingly solicit or collect personal information from children. If at any time Indy Connect learns that a child under the age of 13 has submitted personal information online, it will take all reasonable measures necessary to remove such information from its databases and not use such information for any purpose except where necessary to protect the safety of the child or others or as required by law, such as subpoena, court order, or legal process.

9. Changes to privacy policy and terms of use

If there are changes or additions to this Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, we will post those changes on our website so that you will always know what information we collect online, how we use it, and what choices you have. Please be sure to check this page before proceeding to use our Site. Regardless of any changes we make to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, we will always use your Personally Identifiable Information in accordance with the version of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use in place at the time you provided your information, unless you give your express consent for us to do otherwise.

10. Trademarks and service marks

Indy Connect, IndyConnect.org, and other graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts and service names are registered trademarks, trademarks, and service marks. Indy Connect’s trademarks and service marks may not be used, including as part of trademarks, service marks and/or as part of domain names, in connection with any product or service in any manner that is likely to cause confusion and may not be copied, imitated, or used, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of Indy Connect.

11. Reservation of proprietary rights

Unless explicitly stated herein, nothing in these Terms of Use shall be construed as conferring any license to intellectual property rights, whether directly or indirectly, by express or implied contract, or by estoppel, implication or otherwise.

12. Contact us

If you have any questions or concerns about Indy Connect’s use of your information or about this Privacy Policy, please send an e-mail to [email protected] and note "Privacy" in the subject line.

Notes:

1. A URL is the global address of documents and other resources on the World Wide Web. For example, http://www.IndyConnect.org is the URL for the Indy Connect’s home page.

2. An IP address is an identifier for a computer or device on a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol ("TCP/IP") network, such as the World Wide Web. Networks use the TCP/IP protocol to route information based on the IP address of the destination. In other words, an IP address is a number that is automatically assigned to your computer whenever you are surfing the Web, allowing Web servers to locate and identify your computer. Computers require IP addresses in order for users to communicate on the Internet, browse and shop.

This Privacy Policy and these Terms of Use are effective on February 10, 2010.