PRESS RELEASE - Pit Stop Public Toilet Program Expands to Ninth Neighborhood - 3/5/2018

For immediate release: March 5, 2018

Contact: Rachel Gordon, Public Works, 415-554-6045 

PIT STOP PUBLIC TOILET PROGRAM EXPANDS TO NINTH NEIGHBORHOOD

Pioneering Bathroom Access Initiative Gets More Than 300,000 Uses Annually

San Francisco, CA – Public Works today announced the addition of a Pit Stop public toilet in the Lower Polk district, which became the ninth San Francisco neighborhood to benefit from the innovative program.

The Pit Stop program provides public toilets, sinks, used needle receptacles and dog waste stations in some of San Francisco's most challenging neighborhoods – providing a place for people to take care of their bathroom needs with dignity, improving neighborhood livability and reducing demands on Public Works staff to clean up human waste from the City’s sidewalks, doorways and streets.

“The key to the Pit Stop’s success is that all the facilities are staffed by paid attendants who help ensure that the toilets are well maintained and used for their intended purpose,” said Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, who spearheaded the program that began as a pilot with three locations in the Tenderloin in July 2014. “They really have proven to be game-changers, improving neighborhoods and people’s lives.”

The San Francisco program has become a national model, with several other cities, among them Miami, Denver and Sacramento, starting Pit Stop programs. Los Angeles is set to launch a Pit Stop this month.

“Our Pit Stop program is a win-win for communities – we want our streets to be safe and clean, and we want every one of our residents to carry themselves with dignity,” said Mayor Mark Farrell. “These resources have a proven record of transforming neighborhoods and I am glad to see that Lower Polk is the latest community to benefit from this program.”

The Lower Polk Community Benefit District is staffing the new Pit Stop, located at Larkin and Myrtle streets next to Sgt. John Macaulay Park. It operates daily, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“We’re grateful to be partnering with Public Works to monitor our neighborhood restroom. The data shows that the Pit Stop program helps keep our streets cleaner and healthier,” said Christian Martin, executive director of the Lower Polk Community Benefit District. “Beyond that, they afford people with much-needed relief. We’re very proud to be a part of this initiative.”

District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who helped secure funding to operate the Lower Polk Pit Stop, added, “The Pit Stop program’s success hinges on the strength of its community stewards. Whether it’s doing direct outreach to residents and merchants or hiring neighborhood locals to staff the Pit Stops, the Lower Polk Community Benefit District has used this as a tool to build a stronger, cleaner community.”

San Francisco Pit Stop now operates at 18 locations in nine neighborhoods: Lower Polk, Tenderloin, Mission, SoMa, Civic Center, Mid-Market, Bayview, Castro and the Haight. In addition, Public Works introduced into the mix a “Painted Lady” Pit Stop that resembles a colorful Victorian house; the whimsical yet functional facility rotates among the regular Pit Stop locations and is rolled out in other neighborhoods for use during Public Works’ monthly Community Clean Team volunteer greening and cleaning events.

Collectively, the Pit Stops account for approximately 300,000 flushes a year, averaging about one flush every two minutes.

The Pit Stop program utilizes a mix of portable toilets and semi-permanent JCDecaux public toilet facilities. All but the new Lower Polk location are staffed by Hunters Point Family, a nonprofit that provides job opportunities for people who have faced barriers to employment.

About San Francisco Public Works: The 24/7 City agency cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and nurtures City-maintained street trees; designs, constructs and maintains City-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; builds curb ramps; eradicates graffiti; partners with neighborhoods; trains people for jobs; greens the right of way; and educates our communities.

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