BART is spiffing things up to prepare for a full return to service later this month.
Even the transit agency's decades-shuttered restrooms are getting a makeover for their grand reopening, part of a project first announced last October. The impacted restrooms, including facilities at the Powell Street BART Station, were closed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security just after the Sept. 11 terror attacks – and they simply never reopened.
But as of Wednesday, the toilets are flushing again with BART officials cutting ribbon and reopening the fully-renovated restrooms to passengers.
"We can turn the page on 9/11 and know that it's no longer going to be the excuse for keeping a restroom at BART closed," BART Spokesperson Alicia Trost told KCBS Radio on Wednesday.
The government's recommendation to keep all underground transit restrooms closed for "security reasons" remains in place, Trost explained.
These renovated restrooms have separated wash and dry stations, they're unisex and even have full-time attendants. "What can we do to get riders back onto trains, out of cars and the first step is basic needs," Trost said. "So, let's make sure there's a restroom. Let's make sure trains are clean."
The bathrooms, originally built in the 1970s, were "fully gutted down to the studs" before renovation began, Trost added.
Regular BART rider Steve Truman is a fan.
"Having the bathrooms will serve the people and be great for them to have a place to go," he said.
Trost said BART officials are also planning to reopen the restrooms at the 19th Street and Downtown Oakland stations later this month as the agency prepares for a return to full service on Feb. 14.
More relief is on the way.
Bathrooms at two more stations – Lake Merritt in Oakland and Montgomery Street in San Francisco – were pegged to reopen "before summer next year."
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