NYC subway bathrooms lack such essentials as toilet seats, tissues and soap, MTA audit finds

A sizable number of subway bathrooms lack one or more essentials such as toilet seats, tissues or soap, according to a report from the Office of the MTA Inspector General.

An audit of 32 of the subway’s 125 restrooms between December 2024 and April 2025 found that only 27 were open. The other five were closed because of construction and other reasons, the audit said.

Of the open bathrooms, 23 lacked one or more conveniences, such as toilet paper, or had a broken stall lock or graffiti, the audit found. Of 37 stalls, 10 lacked toilet seats.

Overall, the open subway restrooms were operational and "relatively clean," but some needed maintenance, the inspector general's office said. The audit also urged the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to improve public notification about which facilities were open and where they were situated in the station.

"It is important to have bathrooms that are not only functional but are usable," Inspector General Daniel Cort said in a statement. "Bathrooms that lack a toilet seat, toilet paper, or a lock on the door fall short of providing the comfort, hygiene, and safety that riders deserve."

In response to the audit, the MTA noted it had reopened dozens of bathrooms and made other improvements since the coronavirus pandemic led to facility closures.

"We’re grateful to the inspector general for recognizing this progress, as we seek to continuously improve the customer experience," MTA spokesperson Joana Flores said in a statement.

The MTA agreed with most of the nine recommendations from the Office of the MTA Inspector General, including using QR codes so customers can provide timely information on bathroom conditions, the audit said.

The audit recommended that station cleaners be reminded to periodically monitor and restock the bathrooms, which are open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. but close for an hour starting at noon, officials said.

The MTA did not accept a recommendation to add a communication channel to improve the reliability of staff’s ratings of restroom issues, the audit said. The agency said its existing method was adequate.

Lisa Daglian, executive director for the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, said in a statement sent to Newsday that riders "deserve a clean, functional place to go when they're on the go."

"The IG's report highlights areas that need improvement in subway stations, which anyone who has used one already knows, and we're heartened that the MTA has agreed to accept the majority of the report's recommendations," Daglian said.

By Tiffany Cusaac-Smith

tiffany.cusaac-smith@newsday.com@T_Cusaac

Tiffany Cusaac-Smith is a general assignment reporter for Newsday. She previously worked at USA TODAY and is an alum of Howard University.