Will Commuting Hell Disappear... 79 Metropolitan Routes, 216 Additional Runs Expanded

Joint Announcement by Related Agencies on the Second Standing Passenger Measures for Express Buses
Expansion of Double-Decker Electric Buses... Boarding at Scheduled Times via App

Photo by Asia Economy

The number of metropolitan area buses operating during peak commuting hours will be increased by 216 trips across 79 routes to alleviate commuting difficulties in the Seoul metropolitan area.

On the 5th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Transportation Committee (MTC) jointly announced the 'Second Standing Passenger Countermeasure for Metropolitan Buses' with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon City.

The first countermeasure announced in July focused on restoring routes that had reduced services due to COVID-19 and other factors. The second countermeasure centers on tailored supply expansion for major routes with high demand, including many routes not covered in the first plan where standing passengers frequently occur.

◆Expansion of Metropolitan Bus Operations During Peak Commuting Hours

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

Looking at the details by region, the number of peak-hour trips on 65 routes in the southern Gyeonggi area, where passenger volume is high, will increase from 1,896 to 2,217 trips (including the first countermeasure) by the end of the year, an increase of 321 trips (17%).

Among 19 routes operating from Suwon City to Seoul, 14 routes will increase peak-hour trips from 551 to 645, an increase of 94 trips (17%).

Among 32 routes operating between Hwaseong City and Seoul, 17 routes will increase from 375 to 468 trips, an increase of 93 trips (25%).

Among 33 routes between Yongin City and Seoul, 19 routes will increase from 550 to 637 trips, an increase of 87 trips (16%).

Among 21 routes between Seongnam and Hanam Cities and Seoul, 4 routes will increase from 121 to 133 trips, an increase of 12 trips (10%).

Among 16 routes between Ansan, Gunpo, and Siheung Cities and Seoul, 6 routes will increase from 138 to 151 trips, an increase of 13 trips (10%).

Among 17 routes between Gimpo City and Seoul, 5 routes will increase from 161 to 183 trips, an increase of 22 trips (14%).

In the northern Gyeonggi area, where routes are long and standing passengers and non-stop passes are frequent, 26 routes will increase peak-hour trips from 624 to 719 by the end of the year, an increase of 95 trips (15%).

Among 15 routes between Goyang City and Seoul, 7 routes will increase peak-hour trips from 218 to 264, an increase of 46 trips (21%).

Among 16 routes between Paju City and Seoul, 5 routes will increase from 78 to 93 trips, an increase of 15 trips (19%).

Among 29 routes between Namyangju and Seoul, 7 routes will increase from 151 to 173 trips, an increase of 22 trips (15%).

Among 14 routes between Uijeongbu, Yangju, and Pocheon Cities and Seoul, 7 routes will increase from 177 to 189 trips, an increase of 12 trips (7%).

In Incheon City, where standing passenger issues have become severe due to recent easing of social distancing, 15 routes will increase peak-hour trips from 230 to 296 by the end of the year, an increase of 66 trips (29%).

◆Expansion of Double-Decker Electric Buses... Immediate Boarding at Scheduled Times via App

Additionally, large-capacity double-decker metropolitan electric buses will be expanded.

The MTC plans to introduce 26 double-decker electric buses with significantly increased seating capacity (from 45 to 70 seats) by November and add more than 20 additional buses by the first half of next year.

This will increase the seating supply during peak commuting hours on nine major routes with severe standing passenger issues by approximately 2,400 seats from the current roughly 12,000 seats, significantly alleviating standing passenger problems on those routes.

Alongside this, an expansion plan for the 'Metropolitan Bus Seat Reservation System' will be implemented, allowing passengers to reserve seats in advance via the mobile app (Miri+) and board immediately at the scheduled time without long waits at bus stops. Starting December this year, the system will be gradually expanded to routes with high waiting passenger volumes during peak hours, such as Sadang Station and Gangnam Station.

To address passenger inconvenience caused by buses arriving full at upper bus stops, resulting in frequent standing passengers and non-stop passes at subsequent stops, the operation method of routes will be diversified, including starting service from intermediate stops (mid-route dispatch).

To this end, the 'Guidelines for Diversifying Metropolitan Bus Route Operations' will be prepared by September, and routes selected for increased service through standing passenger countermeasures will be subject to phased implementation starting late September.

The MTC, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon City will form a 'Metropolitan Bus Standing Passenger Response Council' to continuously monitor the implementation status of standing passenger countermeasures and the occurrence of standing passengers, holding monthly meetings to jointly address the metropolitan bus standing passenger issue.

Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "We will significantly increase the supply of metropolitan buses so that citizens commuting daily to Seoul in the metropolitan area can travel more comfortably and safely. We will continue on-site monitoring to identify passenger inconveniences and promptly resolve them."

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