It was a few months back that we explored the issue of access to restrooms in Metrorail stations. Or, to be more exact, the lack of access. Common wisdom holds that you always go before you decide to hop on a train, unless you’re the type to risk holding it for 17 minutes as you painfully wait for that Green Line train to show up. But now Fairfax County may be taking legal action to change that status quo.

The Examiner reports today in its print edition that Fairfax County officials have determined that Metrorail stations in the county may have to comply with state and local building codes, thus potentially forcing the transit agency to expand access to station restrooms. The legal opinion was formulated by the Fairfax Office of the County Attorney in response to complaints that Metro was denying access to restrooms without justification, and was presented to county officials earlier this month. Beyond possibly forcing Metro to install new portable restrooms or expand access to existing ones, the legal document for the first time outlines who may have oversight over the quasi-governmental transit agency and its facilities.

While we’re encouraged that this issue is moving forward — as it well should — we also worry of the unintended consequences of pushing Metro towards completely revisiting their bathroom policy. Currently, station managers have the final say as to who has access to station restrooms, though children, the elderly and the disabled are given priority. It would likely be expensive to install new restrooms or completely retrofit existing ones, and there is always the question of safety and security for user and station alike. Ideally, station managers will face more oversight as to how they enforce the existing policy, so as to avoid a situation where an irate manager turns away a very needy rider.

For now, we’ll remain content knowing that we plan ahead — we go before we start on our way home.