KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City, Missouri, Aviation Department has introduced a plan for all-gender bathrooms in the new terminal at Kansas City International Airport.
Representatives for the Aviation Department presented the idea to the Transportation, Infrastructure and Operations Committee of the KCMO City Council Wednesday.
Deputy Director of Aviation Justin Meyer highlighted the importance of restroom design in airports as it relates to customer satisfaction.
The better the restroom design, Meyer said, the better the customer’s perception of the airport.
Meyer said the department is hopeful the all-gender restrooms will give passengers a better perception of Kansas City.
“We really want to make sure the entire experience for all passengers in the Kansas City International Airport, whether they are from the Kansas City area or from out of town and visiting our city, or just transiting through on a connecting flight — that they do experience the hospitality and care that Kansas City is all about,” Meyer said.
In the all-gender restrooms, designers plan to add stalls instead of urinals. Additionally, the partitions between stalls will be taller and gaps at the top and bottom will be smaller for increased privacy.
Designers are also hopeful the all-gender restrooms will decrease lines and wait times at women’s restrooms.
Seven of the new terminal’s restrooms will be located in secure areas, including the two all-gender restrooms.
Three more restrooms will be in pre-secure, or non-secure areas, Meyer said.
Changing rooms, nursing rooms and family restrooms will be included in the new terminal, in addition to changing tables in both women’s and men’s gender-specific restrooms.
The committee did not vote on the proposal, but asked the Aviation Department to conduct a survey and request public opinion about the idea.
Voters approved construction of a new single-terminal KCI in November 2016. It’s expected to be completed in early 2023 in time for the NFL Draft in Kansas City, Missouri.
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