Metro Transit fined for failing to provide enough bathrooms for drivers

Amid numerous complaints of drivers having to relieve themselves in coffee cups, wearing diapers or even losing control of their bladders in their seats, the state Department of Labor and Industries has issued a citation to King County Metro Transit for failing to provide drivers with unrestricted access to bathrooms.

A six-month investigation found a number of violations including bathrooms unavailable at all times for each route service and bathrooms not located at each route terminal within a distance that can be accessed during scheduled break time.

It also found drivers were disciplined for running late due to time spent using a bathroom or trying to find one.

“Many of them were having to take desperate measures to relieve themselves because they couldn’t get to a restroom in time,” says Tim Church, spokesman with the Department of Labor and Industries.

“We heard a number of stories that were really sad. People who had to relieve themselves in coffee cups or, in some cases, could not hold it anymore because they couldn’t get there in time,” Church says.

The investigation also found a number of restrooms designated for Metro operators were locked, broken, or occupied by people sleeping in them, Church says.

The violation is considered “serious” and carries a $3,500 fine. The citation gives Metro 30 days to respond and provide a plan to correct the violation, or appeal.

Metro GM Kevin Desmond says the agency is working to address and fix the problems identified by L&I. He says Metro is very concerned about the well-being of the drivers and is working with the union to make sure they are taken care of.

“Our bus drivers have a right to available restrooms and we want to make sure that they have a chance to relieve themselves when they need to,” Desmond says.

Metro has about 280 restroom facilities identified across its route network, Desmond says. About 50 are stand-alone restrooms while the remainder are in gas stations, restaurants, and other businesses.

“We have more or less an ongoing program,” Desmond says. “They found there are some gaps in the system. We might have made an arrangement with an organization or a business several years ago and somehow that might have lapsed or the business might have closed.”

The investigation was prompted by complaints to L&I. The problem had gotten so bad, a union official claimed Metro reportedly has had to replace 60 urine-soaked driver seats annually because drivers couldn’t hold their bladders, Crosscut reported this week. Other drivers reported they’d resorted to wearing adult diapers.

In addition to the primary violation, L&I also cited Metro for failing to provide places to wash hands with hot and cold water and soap at all bathrooms or comfort stations.

Church says Metro has been “cooperative” throughout the investigation, but L&I will continue to closely monitor the situation to make sure it is corrected.

“This is a story that some people might find amusing. But when you think about it, you have to be pretty desperate to do the things that are reported because you can’t find a restroom. I’m sure it has been humiliating and just very frustrating for the people involved,” Church says.

The driver’s union and Metro have been at odds over break times for several years since a performance audit led to reduced break times on many routes. But Desmond insists the agency will do whatever necessary to accommodate drivers including allowing them to stop mid-route in order to relieve themselves.

He says the passage of Prop. 1 in November to expand Metro funding in Seattle will improve scheduled reliability and help operators get the breaks they need.