MBTA To Test Urine Detection Program in Elevators

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), which services Boston and the surrounding area, is launching a pilot program this August in which urine detection sensors will be placed in four downtown elevators, the Boston Herald reports. The elevators, located in Chinatown, Broadway, Charles MGH and North Station, were selected based on how often people are urinating in the cabs, the different cab sizes, and the different environments they are located in to see how well the sensors work. The sensors are affixed to the ceiling of the elevator, and have an attached fan, which allows the device to suck in the air and “basically smell what is present,” said Meghan Collins, MBTA program/projects manager, accessible tech. The sensors are connected to a mobile device, so when urine is detected, transit ambassadors get a notification, and are able to dispatch a cleaning crew to handle the mess. Data will be collected from the sensors, transit ambassadors and cleaners to measure effectiveness until mid-November, and officials will then decide whether to implement the program by the end of the year. The MBTA hopes the program helps alleviate problems, as public urination is not only unsanitary, but can also damage equipment.