Wanju-gun Ranks First Nationwide for Three Consecutive Times in Public Transportation Policy Evaluation

Published 07 Dec.2021 16:22(KST)

Recognition of Achievements in City Bus Route Reorganization, Public Operation System, and Happy Call Bus

Wanju-gun Ranks First Nationwide for Three Consecutive Times in Public Transportation Policy Evaluation

[Wanju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] Wanju County announced on the 7th that it was selected as the best institution nationwide, ranking first in the ‘2021 Public Transportation Policy Evaluation,’ and will receive the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s institutional commendation.

The public transportation policy evaluation is conducted every two years to induce effective and systematic public transportation plans and policies by dividing 161 cities and counties nationwide, including metropolitan cities, into five groups (A~E) and evaluating their public transportation policies.

The evaluation is conducted through the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, a transportation expert organization, and includes a document review of 4 sectors?public transportation facilities, public transportation services, public transportation administration and policy support, and public transportation users?covering 19 indicators and 51 evaluation items, along with resident satisfaction surveys and on-site inspections.

This evaluation covered the period from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020, and Wanju County, belonging to Group E, achieved first place.

Wanju County has achieved the remarkable feat of being selected as the best institution in the public transportation policy evaluation for three consecutive times by ranking first this year as well as in 2017 and 2019.

Wanju County was highly evaluated for introducing village buses connecting villages and localities through the reorganization of city bus routes and applying a public operation system directly managed by the county.

The establishment of a transfer fare system between city buses and village buses and linking it with the Happy Call Bus also attracted attention.

It also received high marks for effectively implementing various policies to improve transportation welfare, such as operating the Euddeum Taxi (500 won taxi) for transportation-disadvantaged areas, school taxis, call taxis for the disabled, and the Happy Call Bus.

Park Seong-il, Wanju County Governor, said, “Since public transportation is used a lot by vulnerable groups such as the elderly and students, it should be approached from a welfare perspective,” and added, “We will continuously expand village bus operations and directly operate them as a public system to provide safe and friendly public transportation services to residents.”