This is how Bay Ridge residents may soon spell relief: A-P-T.
The New York City Department of Transpor-tation announced last week that the 69th Street Pier will be among the latest recipients of a high-tech, self-cleaning public toilet.
The facility, called an automatic public toilet (APT), will be installed under the city’s coordinated street furniture franchise with Cemusa, Inc, a street furniture company headquartered in Spain.
“Restrooms are an essential part of a livable city and we will not ‘stall’ until we have world-class amenities and public spaces in New York,” said DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “We are pleased to partner with Cemusa to bring these public toilets to communities across the city.”
Bay Ridge’s APT will be installed within the next six months, as will a facility at Marcus Garvey Boulevard at Broadway in Brooklyn, and two in Queens.
The APTs clean themselves after each use, and tamper-proof automatic doors that open from the inside ensure privacy.
They cost 25 cents to operate, with a time limit of 15 minutes, and will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Each APT is climate-controlled and includes a toilet, wash basin with running warm water, and mirror.
An automated system controls the door and prevents unauthorized en-trance, and the APTs are fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
After 12 minutes of use, an acoustic alarm and red flashing lights go off for three minutes before the door opens. Once a user has exited, the APT doors close and the 90-second automatic cleaning cycle begins.
Bay Ridge City Council-member Vincent Gentile hailed its arrival, particularly since ferry service could bring an influx of commuters to the pier.
“Once faced with hundreds of daily riders, this would be a key location for a restroom. Not only will it accommodate the many commuters, but it will also provide the city with added revenue,” Gentile said.
The 20-year contract calls for Cemusa to build and maintain 3,300 new bus shelters, 330 newsstands, 20 APTs and provide $1.4 billion in new revenue to New York City.
APT locations are selected from suggestions provided by the community and elected officials.
The DOT and Cemusa review the sites to determine if they have the necessary infrastructure to support an APT.
By law, the final sites are approved by the City Council and the mayor.
Since June 2006, Cemusa has installed 1,284 bus shelters, 64 newsstands, one APT and the city’s first four sheltered bike parking structures, officials said.
According to the DOT, the franchise has already delivered $118,460,000 to the city, and by manufacturing at least half of all franchise structures locally, Cemusa has helped to create more than 150 jobs in the New York City area.
The city’s first APT was installed in Madison Square Park in Manhattan in January 2008, home to the famed burger stand Shake Shack, which is reportedly considering a move to Brooklyn.
