Stations Need Stalls: More Public Bathroooms at Metro
LA Metro Board of Directors
LA Metro has been running a public restroom pilot program at a few stations with a company called Throne. So far, these restrooms have been successful at improving cleanliness at stations, with 13.5K uses and zero incidents of misuse of the bathrooms. The pilot program is about to come to an end, and we cannot let Metro shelve this vital public service when the pilot program term expires. We are asking the Metro Board to take the findings from this successful pilot program and commit to preserving existing restrooms and expanding the service to more stations across LA.
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To:
LA Metro Board of Directors
From:
[Your Name]
Dear Metro Board of Directors,
I am a concerned transit rider urging Metro to prioritize cleanliness and improve the rider experience by establishing public restrooms at Metro stations. Metro’s recent 6-month pilot program with startup Throne Labs highlighted the need and appreciation for putting public restrooms at or near Metro transit hubs. The Throne pilot program is set to end shortly, but Metro cannot allow access to public bathrooms to disappear when this contract ends.
So far, the program has been a resounding success, according to Metro’s own reporting: 13.5K uses, 4.3/5 star cleanliness rating, 90% uptime, and zero incidents of misuse. Most notably, stations with throne pilots saw a 50% reduction in public urination and defecation — improving the Metro experience for everyone.
The value of this resource extends not just to riders but also to Metro employees, who deserve frequent access to high-quality public restrooms in their places of business and along transit routes. Our communities deserve nice things, and Angelenos have shown that we value public services that value us, the people. We urge Metro to use the insights gained from this program and move forward with its stated plans to both continue and expand the implementation of public restrooms at and near transit stations.
In the Vision 2028 Plan, Metro notes “delivering outstanding trip experiences for all users of the transportation system” as one of the primary targets — establishing public restrooms at Metro hubs would work towards achieving this goal. Riders cannot have an outstanding trip experience in a filthy station, where elevators and station corners are used as pseudo-restrooms. Moreover, riders cannot have an outstanding trip experience without access to public restrooms along the way. If Metro truly wants to improve the rider experience and increase ridership, Metro must commit to prioritizing station cleanliness and establishing public restrooms at Metro stations.
As a transit rider, I believe Metro should invest in services that create a high-quality public transit experience for all transit riders and foster a safe work environment for Metro employees. This is why I think it is so important for Metro to prioritize cleanliness and the user experience by establishing permanent public restrooms at Metro stations. I ask you to:
1) Expand the public restroom program and establish accessible, free, public restrooms at all Los Angeles Metro stations;
2) Ensure restrooms are maintained by union workers;
3) Incorporate public bathrooms into the design of all future Metro stations.
Thank you.