Chicago is set to welcome its first free, standalone, self-cleaning public restroom, a convenience familiar in Europe but a novelty in the Windy City. Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st) has confirmed the initiative, stating that the project is advancing "rapidly," as reported by NBC Chicago. La Spata, who has long advocated for more public bathrooms, said, "It’s been a lot of waiting and waiting and waiting, but it’s finally happening."
The high-tech facility, also known as an automated public toilet, is a product of JCDecaux, a company recognized for erecting bus shelters and outdoor furniture across Chicago. Reflecting on the importance of such amenities, La Spata told NBC Chicago, "This is an everybody amenity, but it’s especially helpful for our seniors and families with small children." The alderperson also highlighted the practical struggles of commuting with young children, acknowledging the need for accessible restrooms.
The proposed site for the restroom will be situated close to existing sewer and water lines to reduce installation costs. Despite not disclosing the precise installation expenses, La Spata is awaiting a final estimate from the Chicago Department of Transportation. Erica Schroeder, a spokesperson for the department, estimated the cost to be under $500,000, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The operation and maintenance costs, however, will not burden the city as JCDecaux will handle them.
Though optimistic about this pilot installation, La Spata is cautious not to be quick to promise further expansions. "It took us three years to get this one," he acknowledged. Still, he remains hopeful that the first Ward, alongside its visitors, will benefit from the project. "I’m hoping that when we get this out there, we can show people this is both safe and sanitary," La Spata told the Chicago Sun-Times. He sees it as a scalable solution for the city if the initial rollout proves successful.
The innovative design includes an automatic cleaning system activated between uses, with JCDecaux claiming to have invented the self-cleaning public toilet over four decades ago. Presently, Chicago lags behind cities like San Francisco, where JCDecaux has provided 25 standalone public toilets since 1994. In an effort to improve residents' awareness of accessible facilities, the Chicago Tribune created a searchable map in 2021 that identified fewer than 500 structures with free public restrooms, a resource that could become more robust with the addition of automated toilets.
