Those travelling through the Capitol Hill neighborhood soon will find something sorely lacking in most of the city: a public toilet.

Beginning next Monday, a mobile restroom will be available on Clarkson Street, yards away from heavily trafficked East Colfax Avenue.

The movable unit, which includes one urinal and three toilets, is a feature of a Denver Public Works pilot program that will determine whether more of the restrooms are placed elsewhere in Denver.

Complaints about public urination, and defecation, led the city to launch the pilot program, said Evan Dreyer, Mayor’s deputy chief of staff .

“The beauty and elegance of a pilot program is you get to test and gauge whether it is successful or not,” Dreyer said.

The unit has three restroom stalls, including one that is handicap-accessible, and will be available from noon until midnight.

Space in the unit is also provided for an attendant who will be on hand to ensure it isn’t abused, said at-large City Councilwoman Robin Kniech.

The attendant will keep track of how many use the facility, make sure it isn’t vandalized, and can call for help if there is a medical emergency, said Jim Raeder, a co-owner of Liberty Waste Management, the Englewood company that is providing and caring for the unit.

The area is a nexus for bus lines, bicycle routes, and a location for B-cycle stations, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. Foot and vehicle traffic are heavy.

“It is here at the hub of all that activity. It seems like the right place to start. We need it. The city is thriving,” Kniech said. “All those people need somewhere to go.”

Public urination and defecation are problems throughout much of the central city, Kniech said.

The unit will be transported out of the neighborhood each night, cleaned, and restocked, said Raeder.

It is expected to cost the city $16,000 per month for each unit, said Nancy Kuhn, Public Works spokeswoman.

Over the next three to six months, the city will evaluate the restroom’s effectiveness to determine whether the program should be expanded.

“I think it is worth the experiment. It will help homeless people who need to go, it will give a helping hand to the streets,” said Tony Davey, who lives nearby.

Most tickets written for public urination are accounted for by bar visitors and others who aren’t homeless.

The city has also reopened the restroom at Skyline Park, and plans to reopen those in Commons Park and at the McNichols Building in Civic Center park.

San Francisco, and other cities also provide mobile restrooms.

Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671, tmcghee@denverpost.com or @dpmcghee