NYC Transit President Richard Davey’s announcement that his agency has reopened nine more subway station bathrooms on top of the seven last year was disappointing. Riders can only access them between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. They will be closed between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
New York City is a 24/7 town, just like the subway system. This still leaves us with a full bladder and no place to go during those hours and all day long at 455 of the other 471 subway stations that are still closed or never had bathrooms.
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber continues to fail in applying equity when it comes to NYC Transit subway riders vs. Metro North and Long Island Rail Road. Their commuters having access to clean safe bathrooms. I guess when riding the subways, both he and Davey have never had the urge to go. Perhaps their bladders are stronger than most riders’ or they wear Depends to and from work. Many of the 3 million-plus subway or commuter rail riders who utilize existing restrooms on a daily basis would disagree with both.
LIRR restrooms at Penn Station, Atlantic Terminal, Jamaica Station and dozens of other stations are open. MNRR Grand Central Terminal and dozens of other stations are open. The LIRR has new modern state-of-the-art bathrooms at Grand Central Madison. Staten Island Railway passengers have direct access to both the NYC Department of Transportation Staten Island St. George and Manhattan Whitehall Street Ferry Terminal restrooms.
Lieber forgot that the previous NYC Transit president, Sarah Feinberg, in June 2021 said she would like to reopen all closed subway station bathrooms as quickly as possible. Why 19 months later are we still waiting? When will the MTA and NYC Transit make the budget and give detailed schedules for reopening all current bathrooms closed as a result of COVID-19?.
There are 130 existing bathrooms at 70 of 472 subway stations. Reopening secure, safe bathrooms with adequate supplies of toilet paper, soap and hot water would be one way to attract 2 million former pre-COVID-19 riders who have yet to return. Access to a public restroom is a basic human right.
Within the $51 billion 2020-2024 Five Year Capital Plan funding can be found to reopen all existing bathrooms. Bringing more subway stations into compliance with the Americans for Disabilities Act should also include construction of restroom facilities at those stations lacking such amenities. The MTA will be eligible for $1.8 billion in funding from the Federal Transit Administration in 2023. The MTA historically has allocated 70% of these annual federal funds for NYC Transit.
These funds can be used for both bathroom improvements to existing or construction of new restrooms. Funds can also be programmed for preventative maintenance. Why doesn’t the MTA add functioning restrooms to the NYC Transit Capital Program? Use federal funds to pay for these improvements. Coordinate the scheduling of bathroom cleaning with assignment of police who patrol stations. They can provide employees with a level of comfort when cleaning.
You could also hire a private sector company to maintain and clean bathrooms. Offer the private sector the ability to adopt a station bathroom in exchange for free station advertising. Do the same with companies that provide bathroom cleaning products and supplies.
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Hundreds of MTA HQ employees at 2 Broadway along with many of the thousands of NYC Transit employees have access to clean safe restroom facilities 24/7. Paying customers and 100% of NYC Transit employees deserve no less.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former Director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.