Good news today from Washington, DC for stressed passengers.

The Washington Post reports an announcement by the capital’s Metro that there will be  restrooms for riders at every station on its new Silver Line.    The American Restroom Association has long advocated for toilet availability along the extensive light rail system. Today’s victory is thanks to a change in the Virginia building code.  As of 2006, Virgina has required public restrooms in new constructions.

While there are toilets at a number of existing Metro stations, riders  have to know about their existence, ask the station manager for a key and then find them hidden behind doors marked “Fire Equipment Cabinet” or “Authorized Personnel Only.”

Each of the eleven new stations that will open in 2013 on the line serving Dulles Airport will have four private stalls, with two for men and two for women.

PHLUSH considers unisex stalls more efficient and better for potty parity, but  applauds any increase in toilet access.   At three of the future Metro stations, restrooms will be located outside of the turnstiles, making them truly public facilities.

Meanwhile Federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced new regulations protecting the rights of passengers to use toilets in planes that are held on the tarmac after pulling away from the gate.  The new regulations stipulate that: “Carriers are required to provide adequate food and potable drinking water for passengers within two hours of the aircraft being delayed on the tarmac and to maintain operable lavatories and, if necessary, provide medical attention.”

The Feds acted only after the airlines failed to enact a passengers bill of rights, after a bill introduced by Barbara Boxer got stuck in the Senate, and after a court struck down similar legislation in New York.

While the new regulation Enhancing Airline Passenger Protection, should put an end to the horror stories,  pundits at the Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic point out that the measure offers no compensation for inconvenienced passengers.  The fine for non- compliance $27,000 per passenger, which of course goes to the government.   Passengers don’t even get a partial ticket refund!