Public Restroom Pilot

Public Restroom Pilot

PROJECT UPDATE

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 28, 2024 —The City of Ann Arbor is announcing new portable public restrooms will be open for business throughout the city in the coming weeks. Throne Labs Inc. will begin installing the public restrooms this week. The free restrooms will be colorful additions to the downtown, with designs that celebrate Ann Arbor’s bicentennial milestone, welcoming and providing convenience for Ann Arbor visitors. Portable public restrooms will be located at:

• • 100 block of East Washington Street, east of Main Street on the north side of the street.
  • The Robert J. Delonis Center (312 W. Huron St.) https://www.annarborshelter.org/
  • The Ann Arbor Farmers Market (315 Detroit St.) https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/parks-places/farmers-market/pages/default.aspx
  • Liberty Plaza Park (310 S. Division St.) https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/parks-places/Pages/LibertyPlaza.aspx
  • West Park (215 Chapin St.) https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/parks-places/Pages/West.aspx
  • Riverside Park near the B2B trail (1000 Canal St.) https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/parks-places/Pages/Riverside.aspx
  • Two units will be located at Veterans Memorial Park (2150 Jackson Ave.)  https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/parks-places/Pages/Veterans-Memorial-Park.aspx

“We’re excited to launch this one-year pilot program and offer our downtown visitors safe and dignified public restroom options for all people regardless of ability, gender, race, housing status, culture and age,” said Milton Dohoney Jr., Ann Arbor city administrator. “We want to be a welcoming and inclusive city, and this pilot program will allow us to achieve this goal, which although temporary, will help us to determine where permanent public restrooms are needed in the downtown.”

Restroom access

Accessible by sending a text message, using a mobile app, or with a Throne Tap Card. Throne offers a turnkey restroom solution that includes all cleaning, servicing, and user support, thus reducing the capital and time required to implement permanent restroom infrastructure. Baby-changing stations and menstrual products will be included in each location. The Throne design exceeds Federal ADA standards to enable easy access for all members of the community. For those without cell phones, Throne Tap Cards will be available at Larcom City Hall (301 E. Huron St.) or the Delonis Center (312 W. Huron St.) during regular business hours.

Project History

The Downtown Public Restroom Pilot is a temporary public restroom installation to help us determine where and how we install more public restrooms downtown. The overarching goal is to provide a safe & dignified public restroom option for all people regardless of ability, gender, race, housing status, culture, and age.

Project Timeline

• May – September 2023: Downtown Public Restroom Work Group goal and location criteria-setting
• Fall 2023: Restroom cost share to DDA Board and City Council
• June 2024: Thrones installed
• Summer 2024 – Summer 2025: Pilot operation and evaluation period
• Summer/Fall 2025: Outcome report and recommendation for permanent public restroom solution

Background

Following downtown stakeholder sessions in the Summer of 2022, the City Administrators’ Office convened a team to address the desire for more public restrooms downtown. Through this work, the Throne was selected as the pilot restroom option.

Downtown Public Restroom Work Group

To inform the pilot locations and how the pilot will be evaluated, the DDA convened a workgroup of downtown stakeholders to help inform the restroom pilot in May 2023.

Work Group Members

• Ann Arbor District Library Director
• City of Ann Arbor Commission on Disability Issues Representatives (2)
• City of Ann Arbor Director of Organizational Equity
• City of Ann Arbor DDA Executive Director
• City of Ann Arbor Public Services Area Administrator and Chief of Staff
• Downtown Business District Association Directors
  • Main Street
  • State Street
  • Kerrytown (opted not to participate)
  • South University (opted not to participate)
• Shelter Association of Washtenaw County Executive Director

Where will the Pilot be located?

October 2023 Update:  Two Throne units will be piloted in the DDA District.  Based on the work of the Downtown Public Restroom Work Group, the following locations and timelines have been identified:

• Unit 1 – Installed the full pilot period of 12 months.
  • 100 block of East Washington Street, east of Main Street on the north side of the street.
• Unit 2 – Shared by two locations, six months at each location.
  • 200 block of North Fourth Avenue, south of Catherine Street on the west side of the street.
  • 300 block of Maynard Street, between William St. and the Maynard Parking Structure on the west side of the street.

For more details, see the Downtown Public Restroom Work Group materials below.

Project Information

FAQ
Downtown Street Map

Downtown Public Restroom Work Group Materials

UPDATED-October 27, 2023 Work Group Recommendation Summary

September 27, 2023 Work Group Recommendation Summary
September 18, 2023 Meeting Notes
September 18, 2023 Meeting Presentation

July 26, 2023 Meeting with AAPD Notes
July 10, 2023 Meeting Presentation
July 14, 2023 Discussion Outcome
July 14, 2023 Meeting Notes

June 12, 2023 Meeting Notes
June 12, 2023 Draft Goals Metrics and Location Criteria
June 12, 2023 Location Criteria
June 12, 2023 Meeting Presentation

May 22, 2023 Meeting Presentation
May 22, 2023 Meeting Notes