Seattle Proposes $1.4M Budget to Expand Public Restrooms

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s new budget plans to allocate US$1.4 million annually to install 10 high-tech, modular public restrooms in busy areas across the city, according to a local NPR station.

The proposal follows the city’s pilot project with tech startup Throne Labs earlier this year, which placed four solar-powered public restrooms in Seattle’s Pioneer Square ahead of the World Cup. Each Throne restroom costs the city about $116,000 annually, covering the restroom, maintenance and regular cleaning by Throne’s support team, NPR said.

To access the sleek and modern Throne restrooms, users need to scan a QR code with their phone or use an entry card distributed by Downtown Seattle Association ambassadors. A disembodied voice greets the user with “Welcome to Throne” as the doors open automatically and elevator music plays. The room features bright wallpaper, a baby changing station, a sharps disposal container and a flowery scent. Each visit has a ten-minute time limit, with several warnings before the door opens. After the user finishes, Throne texts the participant to rate the experience.

More than 30,000 people have used the Pioneer Square restrooms so far, NPR reported. The median visit time is two minutes, and users have given the restrooms an average cleanliness rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars. Only five people have been restricted from using Thrones.

The Seattle mayor’s budget also proposes spending $1.8 million in Seattle Park District funds and King County Parks Levy funds to install two new permanent restrooms: One in Cheryl Chow Park in Rainier Valley, and another in a yet-to-be-determined site in Northeast Seattle, NPR reported.

As CMM previously reported, Atlanta partnered with Throne Labs to install 12 smart restrooms near park entrances across Atlanta to help address a long-standing shortage of public restrooms.