U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Central Square Public Toilet

As part of the City’s Participatory Budgeting process, $320,000 in the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget was allocated for a public toilet installation in Central Square. Public Works has identified four possible locations in Central Square. The preferred location is on Western Avenue, just south of Mass. Avenue. Construction is slated for summer 2017.

The toilet opened to the public in January 2018. 

 This project has been completed. No further updates will be made to this project page.


Central Square Public Toilet 

  • Electrical connections/work are 90% complete
  • Water connection is beginning this week
  • We anticipate the toilet being completed in December 2017


Central Square Public Toilet 
Crews to mobilize to begin excavation on site beginning the week of August 7th

The City’s contractor, Onyx Corp., will begin excavation activities at the site of the Central Square Public Toilet during the week of August 7, 2017. 

Crews will be on site digging to expose utility connections and prep the area for the pouring of the concrete foundation for the structure.

This will begin a period of increased activity on site as the contractor continues work this summer and fall with plans for the toilet to be operational by the end of this construction season.

What to Expect During Construction:


• General work hours will be 7am – 4pm, Monday-Friday.
• Please check posted No Parking signs.
• Please follow pedestrian detour signs.
• Access to businesses and properties will be maintained at all times.
• Access will be maintained for emergency vehicles and City services.

Information & Assistance:
Questions regarding this project? Please contact Dan Riviello, Community Relations Manager, at 617.349.4825/ driviello@cambridgema.gov. If you have any special need or disability, please contact us to arrange for special accommodations that may be necessary.


Central Square Public Toilet - May 11, 2017
Gas main replacement work in area of Mass Ave & Western Ave to begin on or about May 16th & take place over the next 2 weeks

As part of the project to install the Central Square Public Toilet on Western Ave, just south of Massachusetts Avenue, a conflict with an existing gas main at the location was identified and the City has been working with Eversource to relocate this line as part of the project.

Eversource’s contractor, Feeney Brothers, will mobilize at the site beginning on or about May 16th to begin this gas main relocation work. The work is anticipated to take 1-2 weeks to complete.

What to Expect During Construction:
  • General work hours will be 7am – 4pm, Monday-Friday.
  • Please check posted No Parking signs.
  • Please follow pedestrian detour signs.
  • Access to businesses and properties will be maintained at all times.
  • Access will be maintained for emergency vehicles and City services.

After the relocation of the gas main, the City’s contractor will begin preparing the site for the installation of the public toilet.

The installation of the toilet will take place in summer 2017, however there are a significant number of utilities in the area and, as with any construction project, unforeseen conflicts could delay or extend the length of the project.

Information & Assistance:
Questions regarding this project? Please contact Dan Riviello, Community Relations Manager, at 617.349.4825/ driviello@cambridgema.gov. If you have any special need or disability, please contact us to arrange for special accommodations that may be necessary.

After reviewing these locations with the Human Services, Police, Community Development, and Public Works departments, as well as discussing the options with the Central Square Advisory Committee, Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association, and Central Square Business Association and reviewing their feedback, the area chosen as the preferred location for the Central Square Public Toilet is on Western Avenue, just south of Massachusetts Avenue.

A conflict with an existing gas main at the location has been identified, and the City is working with Eversource to relocate this line as part of the project. We anticipate that the installation of the toilet will take place in summer 2017, however there are a significant number of utilities in the area and, as with any construction project, unforeseen conflicts could delay or extend the length of the project.


After meeting with stakeholders and soliciting feedback from the Cambridgeport Neighbors Association, Central Square Businesses Association, Central Square Advisory Committee, and others, the City is recommending to site the Central Square Public Toilet on Western Ave just past the intersection with Mass Ave.

Next steps include drilling “test pits” at the location to determine below-grade space, access to utilities, etc. to ensure the location if viable.
City staff attended meetings to share information with community groups on the following dates:
  • Central Square Business Association 5/2/16 and 1/19/17
  • Central Square Advisory Committee 4/20/16 and 1/4/17
  • Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association 6/16/16 and 2/23/17

This project has been completed. No further updates will be made to this project page.


Utility relocations scheduled for March / April. Construction of toilet – summer 2017.

$320,000 in FY16 budget for a public toilet in Central Sq. Will be modeled after the completed public toilet in Harvard Sq. The City worked to identify potential locations that meet criteria of:

  • Available space (above and below ground)
  • Access to utilities
  • Visibility to ensure that the facility can be easily monitored
  • Proximity to restaurants, transit and pedestrian traffic.
The City reviewed locations with community groups and construction is slated for summer 2017.

Dan Riviello

Community Relations Manager

617-349-4825 / driviello@cambridgema.gov

Page was last modified on 7/25/2023 3:43 AM
Contact Us

How can we help?

Please provide as much detail below as possible so City staff can respond to your inquiry:

As a governmental entity, the Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to records made or received by the City. Any information received through use of this site is subject to the same provisions as information provided on paper.

Read our complete privacy statement


Service Requests

Enter a service request via SeeClickFix for things like missed trash pickups, potholes, etc.