Daily BART riders such as Sunday Parker, who rely on the system's spotty, sometimes unpleasant elevator service had good news last month: The transit agency announced plans to coat elevator floors with a new spray-on coating, making — er, liquid spill issues — easier to resolve. Parker, who identifies herself on Twitter as an "advocate for all disabled people who have to endure shit covered elevators to get to work," appeared to welcome the change, which may lead to fewer posts like this:
Yesterday 12th street elevator. @SFBART pic.twitter.com/RN8b5N2usg
— sunday parker (@sundaytakesbart) August 5, 2016
Or this:
Elevator covered in urine. Currently waiting for someone to come clean it. #sfbart pic.twitter.com/ChLIB7yBDa
— sunday parker (@sundaytakesbart) April 14, 2015
Per a press release from BART, we now learn that the $340,000 investment for 80 of the system's elevators involves a two-part Polyurea epoxy that will make elevators easier to clean and prevent liquid seepage. In fact, some elevators are going to shut down as soon as today in order to receive their new glaze.
One curious detail from the release picked up by the Verge: In addition to the reflooring effort, Civic Center Station is getting a "bacteria-eating enzyme misting system," a prototype that could be misting an elevator shaft near you in due time. Elevator shafts — dark, damp, and inaccessible for cleaning — are microbe hotbeds, as the Verge explains, the source of BART's elevator odor issues. Misting is set to occur hourly and own't interrupt service, BART writes.
This is all a bit of a stopgap: BART hopes to reopen some of its underground restrooms that have been closed since 9/11, really solving the problem. Naturally, that project, announced last year and reiterated last month, is moving about as fast as 10-car train at rush hour with an equipment failure during a medical emergency.
Previously: BART Spends $340K To Pee-Proof Elevators