MARTA may shut down public restrooms

MARTA passengers at Five Points station can use newly renovated restrooms — at least until budget-cutters decide whether to close them to save money.

As part of a general overhaul of the station, the bathrooms opened on New Year’s Eve, according to MARTA.

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PAUL DONSKY / AJC

MARTA spent more than $500,000 to spruce up bathrooms at the central Five Points station downtown. Here, renovations are under way early in 2008.

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MARTA said both the men’s and women’s restrooms had new stalls and more of them. They also have new plumbing, sinks, mirrors, fixtures and floors, according to a statement. The project cost $550,000.

They are scheduled to be open from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.

MARTA started the renovations last year, but now it is in the process of making budget cuts because of falling sales tax revenue. Closing bathrooms is one measure being considered. The agency could save about $945,000 annually if it closed all the system’s restrooms, said spokeswoman Andrea Coleman.

MARTA emphasized that the renovations came out of its capital budget, not its operating budget. State law dictates that MARTA split spending between capital projects and operations. MARTA wants the legislature to lift the dictate.