M Buses to be Added in Namyangju Pyeongnae and Jingeon, Paju Gyohha

▲ Metropolitan Express Bus (M Bus)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chunhee] Despite large-scale move-ins, the metropolitan express bus (M-bus) routes will be newly established in Pyeongnae-dong and Jingeon District of Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province, and Gyoha in Paju-si, where transportation networks have not been expanded.

The Metropolitan Area Transport Committee announced on the 21st that it held a metropolitan bus route committee meeting on the 17th and decided to establish three new M-bus routes. The newly added routes include a total of three lines: Pyeongnae-dong, Namyangju-si to Jamsil Station (10 buses), Jingeon District to Jamsil Station (10 buses), and Gyoha, Paju-si to Gwanghwamun (12 buses).

These areas have recently started large-scale move-ins, resulting in high transportation demand, but residents have faced commuting difficulties due to a lack of public transportation. In particular, about 3,000 households are scheduled to move into Jingeon District, Namyangju-si by the end of this year, and about 1,000 households are expected to move into Pyeongnae-dong in the first half of this year.

The three newly established M-bus routes will begin operation in the second half of this year after selecting transportation operators, issuing licenses, and preparing for transportation.

Additionally, the routes from Dongtan, Hwaseong to Gangnam Station (M4448) and Hanshin University to Gangnam Station (M4449), which were decided to be newly established in the second half of last year, will have licenses issued this month and are planned to start operation in the first half of this year.

Choi Kiju, Chairman of the Metropolitan Area Transport Committee, said, "We plan to continuously expand M-bus routes targeting areas with poor public transportation conditions such as new towns to improve the convenience of public transportation use for commuters in the metropolitan area."