T is for toilet: MBTA opens public restrooms this week

If you have to pee, look for a T.

The MBTA announced it is opening public restrooms this week at its train stations in Central, Harvard and Porter squares as well as the Alewife T station. The potty plan is a one-year pilot program

The restroom hours are expected to be the same as the T stations hours - Monday through Saturday, 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday, 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Those who want to use the restrooms will have to ask a station attendant to open it for them. In an e-mail to the Chronicle, MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said the restrooms are only being opened upon request for safety and security reasons and that signs would be posted advertising the restrooms.

In July 2006, a Chronicle survey found a lack of public restrooms in Central Square. City Hall has public restrooms, and several other businesses described their restrooms as "semi-public."

City Manager Bob Healy wrote MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas a letter in April requesting the pilot program, according to a response letter from Grabauskas provided by the MBTA.

In Grabauskas' response to Healy, dated May 14 - Grabauskas said the pilot program isn't expected to cost the city any money for maintenance of the restrooms but welcomed Healy's offer to provide city resources if needed.