Urine Trouble: MARTA Station Elevators to Get Pee Alarms

To discourage users from peeing on elevators at Atlanta MARTA stations, new urine detection technology is being installed as part of rehab plans.

1 minute read

June 21, 2017, 12:00 PM PDT

By jwilliams @jwillia22


MARTA Trains

Rob Marmion / Shutterstock

To cut down on the number of people urinating in elevators at MARTA stations across Atlanta, new pee detection technology is being installed as part of a $149 million rehab program for the system. Dave Wickert of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that the anti-pee technology will flash a strobe light, sound an alarm, and alert MARTA police when urine is detected.

When the elevator door opens, the elevator will stop and won’t operate again until MARTA employees reset it. A crew will clean, sanitize and deodorize the elevator before putting it back into service.

[Tom Beebe, MARTA’s director of vertical transportation] said signs will warn people about the urine detectors. The detectors have already been installed on 13 MARTA elevators and eventually will be installed in all of them.

Wickert notes that plans for future upgrades include adding restrooms to more MARTA stations.

Friday, June 16, 2017 in Atlanta Journal-Constitution

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today