Changwon Special City, City Buses Speed Along Dedicated Lanes on Changwon Wonidae-ro

City Buses Operating as Usual
All 339 Buses Using BRT Exclusive Lanes

As the S-BRT on Wonidaro, the first of its kind in Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, is about to open, public interest in the BRT operation system is increasing.

Promoted as a pilot project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Wonidaro S-BRT offers enhanced features and services compared to existing BRTs, including physically separated dedicated bus lanes (hereinafter BRT exclusive lanes) and general lanes, installation of 30 multifunctional bus stops equipped with heating and cooling functions, and operation of more than 30% eco-friendly buses (electric and hydrogen).

All city buses will operate on the newly established BRT exclusive lanes. The BRT Special Act stipulates that only city buses can operate on the BRT exclusive lanes.

Accordingly, Changwon City has increased transfer convenience by allowing all city buses to use the BRT exclusive lanes, not only the BRT exclusive buses (routes 6000 and 5000) newly established in June last year in accordance with the BRT Special Act, but also express buses directly connecting the outskirts to the downtown area and trunk buses operating in the downtown section, enabling organic transfers and connections.

In particular, express buses that stop only at major stops will operate faster without unnecessary stops by installing overtaking lanes at 10 stops with fewer passengers.

Currently, 45 city bus routes with 339 buses operate on Wonidaro, accounting for 50% of all buses in Changwon City. In the future, as city buses and private cars operate independently, city buses will be able to secure punctuality without being affected by traffic congestion, and private cars will experience improved traffic flow and safety as indiscriminate lane changes, cutting in by buses, and traffic flow disruptions caused by bus stops will be eliminated.

Currently, under laws and regulations, charter buses such as commuter buses are restricted from using the BRT exclusive lanes. Considering the high number of commuter buses, Changwon City has proposed adjusting the types of vehicles allowed to operate according to local conditions. In response, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Daegwangwi) has informed that it plans to review system improvements and establish standards.

In the future, to take city buses, passengers will need to use the BRT central bus stops. Since the BRT central bus stops are installed in the middle of the road, multifunctional bus stops with heating and cooling functions will be installed to prevent the heat island effect and provide shelter from snow and rain. The currently used roadside stops will be repurposed as commuter bus and taxi stops.

At existing roadside stops, buses did not stop precisely at the designated position, requiring passengers to board by stepping down onto the road. However, at the BRT central bus stops, buses will stop at exact positions, and the bus and stop heights will match, making it easier for transportation-vulnerable people to use.

However, since pedestrians only need to cross 2 to 3 lanes to reach the central bus stops, there is a risk of signal violations and jaywalking. Therefore, a pedestrian safety campaign will be conducted to raise awareness of pedestrian safety and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

The city plans to complete the ‘Notice on the Use of Dedicated Lanes’ procedure after the ‘completion confirmation’ by Gyeongnam Province at the end of April when the Wonidaro S-BRT construction is finished.

Je Jongnam, Director of the Transportation and Construction Bureau, said, “We are carefully managing the final paving work and administrative procedures for the opening preparation of the Wonidaro S-BRT,” adding, “Since the S-BRT is being introduced in Changwon for the first time, we will also make every effort to promote it to prevent any confusion among citizens due to changes in the traffic system.”

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