BART spending $340,000 in latest attempt to prevent urination in elevators

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ByAmy Hollyfield KGO logo
Monday, August 22, 2016
BART spending $340,000 in latest attempt to prevent urination in elevators
BART is spending big money to try to solve the problem of people using their elevators as bathrooms. Delays are mounting and costs are increasing.

PLEASANT HILL, Calif. (KGO) -- BART is spending big money to try to solve the problem of people using their elevators as bathrooms. Delays are mounting and costs are increasing.

According to the Bay Area News Group, BART has decided to try a spray-on coating on the floors of their elevators.

It is urine-resistant and BART officials say it is also non-toxic.

This is the third attempt at solving the problem, and it will cost around $340,000.

BART riders say this sounds like a band aid to a bigger problem that needs to be faced.

"I think they have to solve the homeless issue first. I think that would be the only way to truly remediate the issue, not just say, 'Let's spray something down.' I think it'll keep happening, and if they can't do it in the elevators they'll find somewhere to do it," Vallejo resident Jay Willis said.

It took BART four and a half months to experiment with different coatings before they found this one.

BART hopes to have this in place by April. They'll spray it on 80 of their 127 elevators.