HONOLULU -- The long lines outside Oahu women's public restrooms may soon ease up, thanks to a bill signed on Thursday by Mayor Mufi Hannemann.

The new law requires women's public restrooms to have twice the number of stalls than men's restrooms.

Women that KITV spoke with applauded the new law.

Andrea McCleary and hundreds of other women had no long lines to deal with at Thursday night's Na Leo Christmas Concert at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall. However, they've spent their share of time standing in long lines in the past.

"You can spend your entire intermission here," concert attendee Kathy Johnson said. "I have missed so many shows and I have waited in so many lines to use the restroom."

A new law changes the city's building code to require twice the number of toilets in women's restrooms than in men's facilities. The law applies to women's restrooms at concert halls, sports arenas, stadiums, movie theatres and other public facilities that attract large crowds.

The law also applies to any renovated facility, where the cost of alterations exceeds $500,000 in a one-year period.

Although most women applaud the new law, it will be costly. City Events and Services Manager John Fuhrmann said additional restroom stalls will cost between $30,000 and $40,000 each.

Before the mayor signed the bill into law, the city had been working toward easing the long lines. It expanded restrooms at the Blaisdell Concert Hall in 1991 and again in 2003.

The new law takes effect immediately.