Privacy Policy
Last Updated 7/2/2026
Ozarks Transportation Organization appreciates that privacy is important to you and is committed to protecting the confidentiality of Personal Information and handling Personal Information with integrity and with an understanding of its sensitive nature. As such, Ozarks Transportation Organization has created this Privacy Policy (the “Privacy Policy” or “Policy”) to describe how OTO collects, uses, protects, and manages information collected through the Site. This Privacy Policy applies solely to information collected by this website, except where stated otherwise.
For the purposes of this Policy, Personal Information is information that can be used to directly or indirectly to identify a living individual. Personal Information may include, but is not limited to, sensitive categories of information, herein referred to as Sensitive Personal Information, such as information that reveals racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, health, sexual or gender orientation.
This Policy is designed to protect Personal Information under applicable law as it exists. Ozarks Transportation Organization understands that laws and circumstances may change quicker than the Policy can be adjusted to fit and that this Privacy Policy cannot address every possible issue and circumstance. As such, this Privacy Policy is subject in all respects to local legal and regulatory requirements, as well as existing agreements, and Ozarks Transportation Organization confirms that it will comply with any such requirements and existing agreements.
The Ozarks Transportation Organization website at https://ozarkstransportation.org/ (the “Site”) provides information about OTO, regional transportation planning, public meetings, plans, programs, projects, and opportunities for public involvement. In some circumstances, the Site may allow visitors to submit comments, request information, sign up for updates, complete surveys, or otherwise communicate with OTO. This Privacy Policy is designed to inform you about the types of information that may be collected through the Site, how that information may be used, and the steps OTO takes to protect your privacy. This Privacy Policy applies to your use of the Site and other OTO-managed websites or pages that link to this Policy. This Privacy Policy shall also be deemed part of the Ozarks Transportation Organization Site Terms of Use.
This Privacy Policy describes the types of Personal Information that Ozarks Transportation Organization collects in connection with this Site. Ozarks Transportation Organization gathers Personal Information and will distribute this information only within Ozarks Transportation Organization in an effort to meet your needs and respond to your information requests.
We note that if you are an Ozarks Transportation Organization employee, contractor, supplier, or other partner, the use and protection of Personal Information may be subject to additional contractual obligations between us, including without limitation, additional Ozarks Transportation Organization policies.
Personal vs. Non-personal Information
Personal Information: Personal Information may be collected when you voluntarily provide it to OTO through the Site, such as by submitting a comment or question, signing up for email updates, completing a survey, registering for a public meeting or event, or otherwise contacting OTO. Examples may include your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, organization, comments, survey responses, or other information you choose to provide. OTO uses this information to respond to your requests, support public involvement, provide updates you requested, administer programs and meetings, and carry out OTO’s public planning responsibilities. OTO does not knowingly request or collect Personal Information from any person under the age of 13 and asks that individuals under the age of 13 refrain from submitting Personal Information through the Site. OTO does not request or require Social Security numbers, full birth dates, financial account numbers, or similar sensitive personal information through the Site, and visitors should not submit that type of information through website forms, surveys, comments, or other public-facing tools.
Non-Personal Information, Cookies, and Analytics: OTO may collect general information about visits to the Site that does not directly identify a specific individual, such as browser type, device information, pages visited, referring website, approximate location, date and time of visit, and general use and traffic statistics. The Site may use cookies or similar technologies to support website functionality, understand how visitors use the Site, and improve access to public information. You can disable or reject cookies through your browser settings; however, some features of the Site may not function as intended if cookies are disabled.
Use, Disclosure and Protection of Personal Information
It is Ozarks Transportation Organization’s intention to obtain Personal Information only by fair and lawful means, and to use the Personal Information to service your needs and requests. Ozarks Transportation Organization will not process Personal Information in a manner incompatible with the purposes for which it was originally collected unless later authorized by the individual from whom the information was collected or unless allowed by law. We will not keep Personal Information longer than is necessary for the purposes for which it was originally gathered.
When we do collect and process Personal Information about individuals, we will disclose certain information to those particular individuals on a reasonable and timely basis upon written request of the individuals from whom the Personal Information was collected. The disclosed information will include what Personal Information is being collected, who is collecting it, how and for what purposes it is being collected, how it is being used and to whom it is being disclosed. We will allow individuals reasonable access to their Personal Information to verify, correct or delete their data, where inaccurate.
We may use Personal Information to respond to comments, questions, requests for information, meeting registrations, survey responses, email subscriptions, public involvement activities, and other communications submitted through the Site.
In order for OTO to operate the Site, respond to requests, provide public information, administer public involvement activities, and carry out its public planning responsibilities, OTO may share Personal Information with service providers, partner agencies, contractors, or other parties acting on OTO’s behalf or as otherwise permitted or required by law.
Further, we may use and disclose Personal Information to the extent necessary to comply with laws, regulations, court orders, government agencies or investigations and similar legal instructions, to resolve disputes, and to protect Ozarks Transportation Organization rights and property.
OTO may contract with third parties to provide services such as website hosting, email communications, survey tools, analytics, accessibility tools, public involvement platforms, or other technology and administrative support. OTO provides those parties only with the information reasonably necessary to perform the services for which they were contracted.
Ozarks Transportation Organization and its third-party providers may use cloud-based tools, and in such event, data might be processed in countries outside the United States. In such cases, Ozarks Transportation Organization and any such provider will agree to the necessary terms as required by law to protect Personal Information.
Ozarks Transportation Organization will process Personal Information only with consent and when such processing is permitted by applicable law. If Ozarks Transportation Organization needs to process Sensitive Personal Data, which is very rare, Ozarks Transportation Organization will obtain explicit consent for such processing, unless such processing is permitted by applicable law.
OTO does not sell Personal Information. OTO does not use Personal Information for targeted advertising or cross-context behavioral advertising. OTO may share Personal Information only as reasonably necessary to respond to requests, provide public information, administer public involvement activities, comply with legal obligations, work with service providers acting on OTO’s behalf, or carry out OTO’s public planning responsibilities. OTO takes commercially reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality and security of Personal Information and requires service providers to use Personal Information only for the purposes for which it was provided.
Ozarks Transportation Organization will retain your Personal Information only for so long as it is helpful to support the overall purpose for which we collected the information.
OTO may use third-party service providers, including Google Analytics, to help understand how visitors use the Site and to improve website performance, accessibility, and public access to information. Google Analytics may use cookies or similar technologies to collect information such as pages visited, browser and device information, approximate location, referral source, date and time of visit, and general use patterns. OTO does not use Google Analytics to collect names, Social Security numbers, financial information, or other sensitive personal information, and OTO does not combine Google Analytics information with Personal Information submitted through forms or other direct communications.
Google’s ability to use and share information collected by Google Analytics is governed by Google’s terms and privacy policies. Visitors may control cookies through their browser settings and may learn more about the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Email Updates and Communications
Visitors may choose to sign up for OTO email updates, meeting notices, newsletters, or other communications. OTO uses contact information provided for these purposes to send the requested communications and related public information. You may unsubscribe from mass email communications using the unsubscribe link included in the email, when available, or by contacting OTO using the contact information listed in this Policy. OTO may still retain or use information as needed to respond to requests, maintain public records, comply with legal obligations, or carry out OTO’s public planning responsibilities.
External Links; Public Social Media
This Site may provide links to other third party websites, including social media sites. These links are provided to you for your convenience only, and you access them at your own risk. Even if the third party is affiliated with Ozarks Transportation Organization, if you choose to use these links, Ozarks Transportation Organization is not responsible for the conditions or results of use, privacy policies or practices, or the content of such external links or the person or entity responsible for them. You should review the applicable terms of use and privacy policy provisions of such third party websites before using them.
If you choose to interact with OTO through third-party social media platforms, your activity may be visible to others and may be governed by the privacy policies and terms of use of those platforms. OTO is not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party platforms. Please use care when submitting information through public comments, social media posts, surveys, or other public-facing tools.
Other Ozarks Transportation Organization Sites
This Privacy Policy is applicable to this Site, as specified above. However, other Ozarks Transportation Organization websites may have their own respective privacy policy or other privacy-related terms posted. Those other privacy terms and conditions shall apply to privacy-related issues regarding that other site and the use of any services, functionalities or other offerings made in connection with that other site and this Privacy Policy shall not apply in such circumstances.
Amendments to this Privacy Policy
Ozarks Transportation Organization may amend this Policy at any time by posting a revised version on this Site, without providing prior notice to you. Any such amendment will be effective at the time it is posted unless a delayed effective date is expressly stated in the revised version. Your continued use of this Site after such changes have been posted will constitute your acceptance of the changes.
Enforceability
In the event any of the provisions of this Privacy Policy shall be held to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall be unimpaired, and the unenforceable provision shall be replaced by such enforceable term or provision as comes closest to the intention underlying the unenforceable term or provision. This Privacy Policy shall be subject to and does not alter any other agreements you have entered into with Ozarks Transportation Organization.
Applicable Law
This Site (excluding linked sites) is controlled by Ozarks Transportation Organization from its offices within the State of Missouri, United States of America. By accessing this Site, you agree that all matters relating to your use of this Site and the terms of this Privacy Policy shall be governed by the statutes and laws of the State of Missouri, and the federal laws of the U.S.A., without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof. The application of the United Nations Convention of Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, and the model Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act approved by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (as enacted and/or modified into any state law in the U.S.A.), are expressly excluded and shall not apply.
Privacy Requests and Do Not Sell Statement
OTO does not sell Personal Information. Visitors with privacy-related questions or requests may contact OTO using the contact information listed below. Because OTO does not sell Personal Information or use Personal Information for targeted advertising, OTO does not maintain a separate “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” opt-out process. Privacy-related requests will be reviewed and routed to the appropriate staff for response.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to submit a privacy-related request, please contact Ozarks Transportation Organization at comment@ozarkstransportation.org or through our Contact Us page at https://www.ozarkstransportation.org/contact. Privacy-related requests sent to this address will be routed to the appropriate staff for review and response.
