King County staff and Metro presented a briefing on public-restroom pilots at the Aurora Village and Burien transit centers and recommended exploring a consortium model and funding options for long‑term operations. Metro’s pilots began in January 2024 and were extended; Metro said modified staffing reduced security costs by about 63 percent in the second phase. Average daily usage across the two pilot locations has grown to roughly 72 to 102 users per day depending on site, representing a small share of overall ridership but a significant public‑health and customer service improvement for transit riders and neighboring communities.

Initial pilots used an ADA portable unit and external handwash station with dedicated security staffing in phase 1. Phase 2 reduced dedicated security by replacing an on‑site officer at Aurora Village with remote video monitoring and keeping overnight-only coverage at Burien; Metro reported incidents declined with the reduced security model but noted duration of occupancy and inappropriate uses remained a concern at both sites at times.

Metro and county staff described a potential phase 3 modular approach — units marketed by Throne Labs and used in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. — that feature managed access (smartphone, text or tap card), a 10‑minute occupancy limit, automated exit, integrated sensors (for occupancy, smoke and other safety alerts), optional onboard video surveillance for perimeter monitoring, and vendor‑provided maintenance. Each modular unit’s estimated annual cost (lease and vendor maintenance) is about $100,000; Metro estimated two units would cost about $200,000 per year and said phase 3 could reduce operations costs by about 78 percent compared with the original phase 1 model and 15 percent compared with phase 2.

County staff recommended forming a public‑restroom consortium model that assigns roles to agencies with the relevant competencies: public‑health oversight and planning; facility ownership and maintenance (e.g., Metro, Parks); and security operations (Metro Transit Police or contracted security). Staff outlined funding options for durable operations, including sharing costs with partner cities (Burien, Shoreline), contributions from sewer districts where infrastructure is used, business improvement areas or special assessment districts tied to transit centers, or a regional levy or lid lift. Staff said the existing pilots will continue through the current year and said council direction is needed for 2026–27 planning, code revisions, and funding decisions.

Discussion vs. decision: committee members expressed broad support for sustaining restroom access and for Metro to continue pilot work; several members said funding operations out of Metro’s transit budget is appropriate given Metro’s statewide ridership and operating scale. Committee members asked staff to examine equity and access issues for managed‑access systems (for example, users without smartphones) and to pursue partnership options that avoid diverting limited resources from other county services.

Next steps: staff asked the committee to consider code changes to explicitly authorize Metro restrooms, to endorse continued pursuit of modular managed‑access pilots with partner agencies, and to identify a funding strategy for 2026–27. Metro said it is advancing procurement and partner outreach for a regional pilot but that launch timing depends on partner budgets and procurement progress.