TODAY, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the city is launching a new program to expand access to public bathrooms across the city, committing $4 million to a Request for Proposals (RFP) for high-quality modular public restrooms. The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) will release the RFP within the administration's first 100 days in office, seeking bids to install public bathrooms at a lower cost and on a faster timeline than existing public bathroom installations. Similar projects in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Portland, and other cities have delivered restrooms within months at a fraction of the cost as New York's prior public restroom projects, and thanks to this program, New Yorkers will be able to benefit from more widely available public restrooms too.
Mayor Mamdani announced the new program on Saturday at 12th Avenue and St. Clair Place in West Harlem, where he and New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin signed the final approvals for New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) to install a new public bathroom on the site later this year.
"Everyone knows the feeling of needing a bathroom and not being able to find one. With this new commitment to public toilets, we're ensuring New Yorkers can travel through our city with a little less anxiety - starting today at 12th and St. Clair," said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. "Our administration is proving that the government can get right to work to make progress for working people - and perform its essential civic 'duty.'"
"Making our streets the envy of the world means creating welcoming public spaces where New Yorkers are safe, can get where they're going easily and with dignity, and feel cared for - yet today in New York it can feel impossible to find a public bathroom for our most basic needs," said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. "Public restrooms improve the quality of life for everyone, especially our seniors, parents with young children, delivery workers, people with disabilities, and so many more."
"In the biggest city in the country, access to public bathrooms is basic infrastructure, not a luxury. When New Yorkers can't find a restroom, it affects how they use our streets, parks, and public spaces, and ultimately whether they feel welcome in their own city," said Speaker Julie Menin. "The City Council has been clear that this is a quality-of-life issue we can't ignore, which is why we passed legislation to double the number of public restrooms by 2035. By working in partnership with Mayor Mamdani, we're turning that commitment into action, and today's announcement is an important step toward making it real for every New Yorker."
"Public toilets are a perfect example of how simple investments can make a real difference in how people experience our city. They allow New Yorkers to spend more time enjoying their neighborhoods, whether that means walking along the river, spending an afternoon in our parks, or supporting local businesses, without worrying about basic necessities," said Council Member Shaun Abreu. "I'm grateful to Mayor Mamdani for supporting our office's request to site an automatic public toilet in West Harlem at a strategic location that will improve riverfront access and make the neighborhood more welcoming and accessible, as well as to Speaker Menin for her strong support for projects like these across the city. When we approach our streetscapes with creativity and an open mind, we can make practical improvements that meaningfully enhance daily life for New Yorkers."
This commitment is a part of the Mamdani administration's efforts to improve the public realm and to ensure New Yorkers can enjoy and travel around their city safely and with dignity. The new public restroom at 12th Avenue and St. Clair Place will be free to use, fully accessible, self-cleaning, and contain a water bottle filler.
There are currently nearly 1,000 public restrooms in New York City, roughly 70% of which are in parks. This program will significantly grow the number of public restrooms elsewhere in the city, including public plazas - exponentially increasing the number of new restrooms that the city adds each year. City agencies including the New York City Department of Transportation will determine where the additional new facilities will be located.
