Paju City to Launch Day and Night Autonomous Bus Services Centered on GTX-A Unjeong Jungang Station

Paju City Designated as a New "Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Operation Zone" Connecting Unjeong, Gyoha, and Geumchon
Ministry of Land Designation Enhances Both Late-Night Mobility and Regional Accessibility

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on December 9 that Unjeong New Town, Gyoha-dong, and Geumchon-dong have been newly designated as "autonomous vehicle pilot operation zones" by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Topographic map of the pilot operation zone in Paju City. Provided by Paju City.

The purpose of this autonomous vehicle pilot operation zone is to operate autonomous bus routes both at night and during the day, centered around Unjeong Jungang Station on the Metropolitan Express Railway (GTX)-A, which opened in December last year. The goal is to ensure mobility during transportation-vulnerable hours and to strengthen accessibility between different regions.

The night route covers a 14.7-kilometer section connecting Unjeong Jungang Station, Unjeong New Town, and Geumchon Station. This route will operate even after the last train of the Metropolitan Express Railway (GTX)-A, helping to expand public transportation options and improve late-night travel convenience for residents in the Unjeong and Geumchon areas.

The daytime route spans 8.6 kilometers, linking Yadang Station, Unjeong Jungang Station, and Paju Book City. By connecting the existing north-south railway axis established by the Gyeongui-Jungang Line and the Metropolitan Express Railway (GTX)-A to the east-west residential areas, the route is expected to significantly improve accessibility for the Unjeong and Gyoha regions.

Paju City submitted its operation plan to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in August, underwent an on-site inspection in October, and received final designation. On November 28, the city also issued a legislative notice for the enactment of the "Paju City Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Operation Zone Operation and Support Ordinance."

The city expects that, once the ordinance is enacted and the budget is secured in the first half of next year, autonomous driving services will be promptly provided to address transportation issues and further increase public acceptance of autonomous driving technology among citizens.

Cheon Yukyung, Director of Road and Traffic, stated, "The designation of this pilot operation zone marks the starting point for Paju City to become a 'future mobility city.' We will not stop here but will continue to discover and expand service models that are suitable for solving local transportation issues."

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