A Burnaby committee wants to make another push to open washrooms at Metrotown SkyTrain station.
A report submitted by the planning and development committee wants a letter to be written to TransLink to open washrooms next to the station.
The washrooms have not been opened, the report says, because TransLink says the operation and maintenance of the facilities fall under the “purview of the station retail space lessees,” reads the report to council, which will consider it at Monday’s regular meeting. “As the retail spaces have not been leased, the washrooms remain closed.”
The report says the issue is vital for people who use what is Burnaby’s busiest SkyTrain station.
“The City has a longstanding history of advocating for public washrooms at Burnaby SkyTrain stations,” says the report. “During the recent Metrotown SkyTrain Station upgrade and expansion, the City once again advocated and required TransLink to provide for the installation of public washrooms. The station’s improvements included enhanced lighting, glass walls, a bike area with secure storage and repair facility, the addition of new public washrooms and at grade retail plaza space … The matter of timely access to public washrooms continues to be a concern for transit users, especially for people with disabilities and the aging population.
TransLink told the NOW in an email that the washrooms do have fixtures but would require new funding to open them.
"There’s an approved implementation plan for customer washrooms and the Mayors’ Council can add funding for this program to the next investment plan should this become a priority," reads a TransLink statement.
