WTA closes restrooms at downtown Bellingham station in response to drug use, vandalism
Restrooms at the Whatcom Transportation Authority’s downtown Bellingham stations were closed Friday, March 4, due to illegal drug use and vandalism in the bathrooms.
A time frame for closing bathrooms at the WTA’s Cordata Station has not been determined, WTA spokesperson Maureen McCarthy told The Bellingham Herald in an email Friday.
Friday’s closure of the downtown station restrooms, which was first reported by Whatcom News, came in response to WTA staff witnessing and passengers reporting illegal drug use and vandalism in the bathrooms, McCarthy told The Herald.
“The evidence includes smoke, fumes, and a strange chemical smell,” McCarthy wrote. “Along with this, we’ve seen destructive vandalism, including intentionally blocked toilets.
“These create an unsafe environment for our riders and others who use the restrooms.”
With the permanent restrooms closed, WTA moved in portable toilets for the public to use.
“Unfortunately, portable toilets are less comfortable, lacking heat and a place to hang or set belongings,” McCarthy wrote. “We would much rather provide comfortable, indoor restrooms, and will do so again, as soon as we’re confident we can prevent illegal uses.”
To do so, McCarthy said WTA will introduce “prevention” measures, possibly including locking the doors and requiring a key code to enter.
In addition, the WTA, on the recommendation of the Whatcom County Health Department following an evaluation, will bring in a certified contractor to decontaminate the restrooms before they can be reopened.
“We’ll make it a priority to get the restrooms open, as soon as we can reopen them safely,” McCarthy wrote. “We’re sorry for the inconvenience this causes to the many people (almost everyone) who use the restrooms for their intended purposes.”
