Gyeonggi-do Announces Measures to Reduce Gimpo Gold Line Congestion Rate Below 200%

by Lee YeongKyu

Published 18 Apr.2023 11:14(KST)

Gyeonggi Provincial Government Gwanggyo New Office Building

Gyeonggi Province and Gimpo City will deploy charter buses and demand-responsive transit (DRT) buses to alleviate congestion on the Gimpo Gold Line. They also plan to expedite the opening of the Western Metropolitan Express Railroad (GTX-D line) in the long term. The province aims to reduce the congestion rate to below 200% through these measures.

On the 18th, Gyeonggi Province announced the 'Special Measures to Alleviate Congestion on the Gimpo Gold Line,' which include ▲ deploying charter buses and early introduction of demand-responsive buses, limiting the number of passengers boarding, extending bus-only lanes within the year ▲ expanding the road from Gimpo-daero to Gaehwa Station in 2024 ▲ promoting the introduction of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, early confirmation of the subway Line 5 extension route, and prompt promotion of the Western Metropolitan Express Railroad opening as mid- to long-term projects.

The province will first coordinate with Gimpo City to allocate 3.2 billion KRW in contingency funds to ease congestion on the Gimpo Gold Line. According to the Local Finance Act, contingency funds can only be used as subsidies for emergency disaster measures such as COVID-19.

Using the contingency funds, from the 24th of this month, direct charter buses will be deployed on bus route 70, an alternative route to the Gimpo Gold Line, reducing the current 15-minute interval to 5 minutes. Additional charter buses will operate during the morning rush hours from 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM, passing through Gaelpobukbyeon Station, Sau Station, Pungmu Station, and Gochon Station.

The province will also introduce 30 demand-responsive buses (DRT) starting in July. These buses can be summoned, reserved, and paid for via the smartphone app "Ddokta" right in front of apartment complexes, allowing immediate boarding and expected to reduce subway demand. After completing licensing, securing vehicles and drivers, and other operational preparations, the buses will operate sequentially in about ten major apartment complexes in Gochon, Pungmu, and Sau districts. Discussions with Seoul City are underway to allow access to Gimpo Airport Station and Gaehwasan Station.

Starting as early as next month, the province plans to assign professional safety personnel at major Gimpo Gold Line subway stations and limit the number of passengers boarding at train doors (cutting) to prioritize passenger safety and life protection. Currently, 42 elderly safety assistants at subway stations manage passenger flow separation and transfer guidance. Once consultations between Gyeonggi Fire Department and Seoul Fire Department are complete, emergency medical personnel will be stationed at major congested stations to provide immediate treatment during the golden time and assist in hospital transfers if emergencies occur.

The current bus-only lane from Saudong to Gaehwa Station will be extended to Gimpo Airport to improve bus operating speed and punctuality. The province expects that bus travel time from Gochon to Gimpo Airport will be reduced from 21 minutes to 10 minutes with this extension.

The province will participate in the special task force (TF) led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which will be formed at the end of this month, to discuss urgent measures and coordinate mid- to long-term policy directions.

Additionally, the province is pushing short-term measures aimed for implementation in 2024.

The road from Gimpo-daero to Gaehwa Station will be expanded from two lanes to three lanes over a 750-meter section heading toward Seoul. Currently, the road narrows from three lanes to two lanes after Gochon Interchange (IC), causing severe bottlenecks and traffic congestion during morning rush hours. The province plans to coordinate with Seoul City to expedite the project.

Mid- to long-term measures requiring more than two years have also been prepared. A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system will be introduced on the frequently congested section from Gimpo Hangang-ro to Olympic-daero during rush hours, along with the installation of bus-only lanes and road zippers (lane separators that adjust the number of lanes based on traffic volume).

Furthermore, the extension of subway Line 5 from Gimpo to Geomdan New Town will be confirmed early, and the opening of the Western Metropolitan Express Railroad connecting Gimpo to Bucheon Sports Complex will be actively promoted.

Oh Hu-seok, Deputy Governor for Administration of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "On the 11th, three passengers fainted due to respiratory difficulties at Gimpo Airport Station, and the congestion rate of the Gimpo Gold Line (ratio of passengers to transport capacity) reached an average of 242% and a maximum of 289%, prompting the establishment of special measures. We will actively cooperate with related agencies such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Seoul City, and Gimpo City, and concentrate all administrative capabilities to reduce congestion rates to protect the safety and lives of residents and ensure a comfortable commute," he emphasized.