Lately, Philadelphia has been in the news for SEPTA and other citywide cutbacks. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has been discussing SEPTA rate increases for several months now and people are not happy about it. So, it’s surprising to know that the city will pay an extreme amount to give public bathroom options to its people. In fact, as one TikToker shows, new public restrooms on Philly sidewalks cost half a million dollars. Yes, you heard that right.
A Tiktoker recently shared the new public restrooms that you can find on Philadelphia sidewalks if you live in or visit the city. The TikToker, @noshortsusa, visited the public bathroom to show us a sneak peek and explain why it’s so expensive. He starts by saying, “This public bathroom in Philly costs over half a million dollars to purchase and maintain.” He then asks, “Half a million dollars? Does it wipe for me, too?”
No Shorts goes on to show the bathrooms from the outside, saying they have anti-graffiti coating and happen to be stocked with free Narcan and menstrual products. These are actually great features for the city. They also have a handwashing station and there’s tons of room in there. From the outside, there are tons of slats and you may fear that somebody could see inside. It’s unlikely that they can see you when you’re in there. However, they may be able to hear you, which could raise some concerns for the loudest, erm… bathroomgoers.
No Shorts said that the unit itself costs about $160,000. However, they do last for decades, so they’re a good investment – and a necessary one. He says that the real cost comes from the installation, which is an outstanding $250,000. This is due to the fact that the sidewalk needs to be torn up to make way for new sewer lines. Repairing, cleaning, and staffing people to do it costs about $150,000 per year. Now you understand why it’s half a million dollars just for one of these small bathrooms! That’s about as much as a small house outside the city, so you may still be feeling shocked over this. (I know I am!)
So far, there are only two of these units across Philadelphia but the city announced a third is on the way. There are expected to be more in the future, too. The reason why this is so crucial is because Philly ranks low when it comes to cities with proper bathroom access. Consider all the tourists, and unhoused people, who could benefit from these. As No Shorts points out, “Traffic lights can cost, like, $500,000, too. And we need those.”
Commenters agree that Philly spending money on useful things for its people is vital. One commenter said, “What is the hate!? Ppl complain the city doesn’t offer amenities. This is great for residents and guests.” One commenter hilariously joked after seeing the slats, “Imagine fighting for your life pooping and someone peeks in.” Another person pointed out that it’s actually pretty difficult to look in. Another person replied, “Still, people can hear you fighting for your life.” Not so sure I like that aspect, but the rest sounds good. I’m on board.
