Gyeonggi-do Opens an Era of Public Transportation More Convenient Than Private Cars

[Asia Economy (Uijeongbu) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is ushering in an era of public transportation more convenient than private cars.

On the 3rd, Gyeonggi Province held an online press conference at the Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex in Uijeongbu City and announced the 'Achievements and Tasks of the 7th Term Elected Transportation Policy,' which includes various policies strengthened in public interest to open a citizen-centered, safe, and convenient public transportation era.

The announced content is based on four major strategies established since the launch of the 7th term elected government in 2018: strengthening public interest, providing transportation welfare services, establishing proactive and systematic metropolitan transportation measures, and creating a safe public transportation usage environment.

First, to strengthen public interest, the province plans to launch the 'Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation' within the year, which will integrate the management of transportation systems and infrastructure that were previously managed separately by 31 cities and counties within the province.

Additionally, the Gyeonggi-type semi-public bus system based on route bidding, which started operation in March, will be expanded to a total of 56 routes by the end of this year.

To expand the railway network in transportation-vulnerable areas in eastern and northeastern Gyeonggi, six railway projects including the Yangju Okjeong?Pocheon Line, Icheon?Mungyeong double-track railway, electrification of the Gyeongui and Gyeongwon Lines, Yeoju?Wonju single-track railway, and Seohae Line double-track railway will be actively pursued to open on schedule.

To resolve chronic parking problems in old downtown areas, 5,576 additional parking spaces will be created this year by utilizing leftover spaces such as back alleys. Last year, 3,031 parking spaces were secured through parking environment improvement projects.

To expand transportation welfare services centered on people's livelihoods, the 'Youth Transportation Expense Support Project' will be implemented this year, reimbursing part of transportation costs in local currency to 430,000 youths aged 13 to 23.

Furthermore, to guarantee mobility rights for transportation-vulnerable groups, the number of special transportation vehicles will increase from the current 1,071 to 1,116 in 2022, and 407 additional low-floor buses will be added to the current 1,422 this year.

Night buses will also increase from the current 77 routes to 87 routes by the end of the year, and 'Premium Metropolitan Buses,' which provide higher-quality services than regular metropolitan buses, will be introduced on seven routes this year, including Yongin?Seoul Station and Hwaseong?Jamsil Station.

To allow worry-free bus rides without missing stops, the 'Gyeonggi Bus Information' app will be equipped with features such as 'boarding waiting notifications' and 'no-stop reporting,' and efforts will be made to establish proactive metropolitan transportation measures at the provincial level.

To minimize transportation inconveniences in the 3rd phase new towns, support will be provided to ensure smooth opening of railways such as the Songpa?Hanam Line, Wirye?Gwacheon Line, and Goyang Line, while expanding public bus garages and constructing transfer facilities. Ongoing railway projects such as the Hanam Line, Shinbundang Line extension, Ilsan Line extension, and Line 9 extension will also be pushed for timely completion.

Additionally, a regional highway network will be established, including the Metropolitan Area 2nd Ring Expressway, timely opening of the Great Train Express (GTX) lines, and construction of a metropolitan circular railway network, creating a radial and circular metropolitan transportation network.

The province will also promote projects to create an eco-friendly and safe public transportation usage environment.

To this end, by 2027, all diesel buses in the Gyeonggi area will be replaced with eco-friendly electric and CNG buses, and a 'regulatory sandbox demonstration project' will be conducted targeting Hwaseong and Siheung to activate personal mobility devices such as electric kickboards, which are gaining popularity as mid- to short-distance transportation means.

Moreover, eco-friendly transportation means such as trams or light rail transit will be introduced in new town areas like Seongnam and Dongtan, and 71.2 billion won will be invested in projects to improve school routes and enhance and expand traffic safety facilities to prevent children's traffic accidents.

Park Tae-hwan, Director of the Gyeonggi Provincial Transportation Bureau, emphasized, "The metropolitan area faces chronic road congestion and public transportation overcrowding problems," adding, "We will establish and implement measures so that citizens can fully enjoy transportation welfare and make public transportation more convenient than private cars in Gyeonggi Province."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.