Oulu’s transport committee to address restroom facilities for bus drivers

Oulu’s public transport bus drivers may soon see a resolution to their restroom dilemma following an upcoming meeting of the city’s transport committee next week. During this meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, the committee will deliberate on the tender for the procurement of restroom facilities for Oulu’s bus drivers.

The issue has been a topic of discussion throughout the year, particularly highlighted by a temporary outdoor toilet constructed from snow in Linnanmaa, which bus drivers were forced to use during winter due to a lack of proper facilities. A consensus on who should bear the costs of these restrooms has proven challenging.

Currently, the committee is set to propose a tender process for restroom facilities, aiming for implementation between October and November. The contract would commence at the end of this year and extend until late October 2029. The leasing deal for the furnishings and maintenance is estimated to cost around €70,000 annually, leading to an overall cost of about €490,000 for the duration of the contract, with operators covering 80% and the city contributing the remaining 20%, equating to just under €100,000 over the term.

Helena Väliaho, the city’s public transport manager, confirmed that operators have agreed to the proposed cost-sharing. A total of 12 restrooms is expected to be installed at busy bus terminuses lacking access to alternative facilities, to be delivered in two phases over this and next year.

The restrooms will feature heated and illuminated portable units secured with numeric codes. Väliaho noted that the current design will not include sewer connections, and structural changes have helped reduce costs. She stated that the city is ready to initiate the tender process immediately upon receiving approval from the transport committee, expressing optimism that the restrooms could be operational by the end of this year.