NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The MTA is in no rush to reopen public restrooms inside subway stations that have been closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber told state senators during his confirmation hearing Wednesday that the agency is “not looking to become the new bathroom provider,” according to a WNYC reporter monitoring the event.
The comments were in response to a question from state Sen.
Jessica Ramos, who noted the restrooms could provide a better commuting experience for many New Yorkers and offer relief to homeless individuals using the stations for warmth, AMNY reported.
“I’m happy to look at it, but the bathrooms, it is not the MTA’s priority,” Lieber reportedly said.
“To provide restrooms for the above-grade population that you’re describing, who are struggling with housing issues and otherwise… We are a transportation agency,” he added.
According to paper, all active public bathrooms within 76 subway stations were closed in March 2020 to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The agency has reopened restrooms near commuter rail lines, including at Penn Station, Atlantic Terminal, Jamacia Station and Grand Central Terminal, AMNY reported.
Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North trains also have on-board restrooms.
The MTA reportedly has no timeline, however, to reopen the remaining bathrooms, and Lieber noted at the confirmation hearing that cleanliness isn’t the only issue preventing the agency from acting.
“We have struggled, honestly, not just with the cleaning, but with constantly replacing fixtures that are destroyed so frequently and vandalism issues,” he said.
According to AMNY, Ramos is continuing to press the MTA to reopen the restrooms, saying MTA customers – regardless of their housing status – need to have access to them when the system is not running as it should.
“Either way, [access to restrooms] is something that has long been missing from our system and actually should be made a priority because you’re prioritizing riders,” Ramos said.
WCBS 880 has reached out to the MTA for further comment.
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