Osan City to Increase Metropolitan Buses to Seoul... Tackling Segyo 2 New Town Commuting Congestion

Osan City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Ekwon Jae) has taken proactive steps to address the shortage of metropolitan buses traveling to Seoul during commuting hours.

Osan City recently requested the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Transportation Committee and Gyeonggi Province to increase the number of commuter buses to improve metropolitan transportation convenience for its citizens. Photo by Osan City

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The city recently announced that it has formally requested the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s Metropolitan Area Wide-Area Transportation Committee (MAWTC) and Gyeonggi Province to increase the number of buses during commuting hours to improve metropolitan transportation convenience for citizens.

According to the city on April 25, over 10,000 residential units have already been developed in the Segyo 2 New Town area. However, there has been a chronic shortage of metropolitan buses, leading to ongoing complaints from citizens about significant inconvenience.

Previously, in July last year, Mayor Ekwon Jae and officials from the city’s transportation policy division boarded the 5104 bus early in the morning to closely examine commuter-hour congestion, bus intervals, and conditions at bus stops. While on the bus, they engaged in conversations with citizens to listen to their inconvenience and suggestions, which prompted follow-up actions.

The city has proposed to the MAWTC and Gyeonggi Province to increase the number of buses during commuting hours on the following metropolitan routes: 5104 (to Seoul Station), 1311, 1311B, 5200, and 5300 (all to Gangnam). Specifically, Osan City has requested two additional runs for route 5104, two for 1311, four for 1311B, two for 5200, and four for 5300.

Mayor Ekwon Jae emphasized, "Metropolitan transportation is an urgent issue that can no longer be postponed," and added, "We will devise fundamental solutions, including increasing the number of metropolitan buses during commuting hours."

He further stated, "We will continue to communicate and consult with the MAWTC and Gyeonggi Province about the need for establishing new metropolitan bus routes and increasing the number of existing ones operating in Osan City."

Going forward, the city plans to continuously monitor changes in metropolitan bus demand and proactively implement additional increases and route adjustments to minimize inconvenience for citizens.

Lee Kwon-jae, Mayor of Osan, is riding the intercity bus and having a conversation with citizens. Photo by Osan City

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Meanwhile, since April 1, the city has deployed three additional eco-friendly double-decker electric buses on route 5300, leading the way in improving public transportation convenience for citizens, reducing fine dust, and saving energy. The city also plans to introduce four more eco-friendly double-decker electric buses in the second half of this year.

These eco-friendly double-decker buses are large-capacity electric vehicles with 30 more seats than regular buses (increasing from 40 to 70 seats), significantly helping to alleviate the chronic commuting congestion in the Seoul metropolitan area.

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