Expansion of Development Projects Subject to Metropolitan Transportation Measures from 1 Million㎡ to 500,000㎡ or More

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The criteria for large-scale development projects subject to mandatory establishment of metropolitan transportation improvement plans will be significantly strengthened from the existing 1 million㎡ to 500,000㎡ or more. This measure aims to prevent artificial project splitting by developers to reduce the burden of transportation measures.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Area Wide-area Transportation Committee announced on the 9th that the amendment to the "Special Act on Metropolitan Area Wide-area Transportation Management," which expands the scope of mandatory establishment of metropolitan transportation improvement plans, passed the Cabinet meeting. This is one of the follow-up measures to the 'Wide-area Transportation 2030' plan announced last October.

Through this amendment, the criteria for large-scale development projects required to establish metropolitan transportation improvement plans have been halved. Previously, the scope was a development area of 1 million㎡ or a population capacity of 20,000 or more, but it was pointed out that splitting the area or population below the establishment criteria caused surrounding traffic congestion.

Accordingly, the scope has been strengthened to a development area of 500,000㎡ or more or a population capacity of 10,000 or more, and transportation facilities capable of properly handling the metropolitan transportation demand caused by development projects are expected to be addressed together.

This amendment will be enforced from the date of promulgation after procedures such as publication in the official gazette. It will apply to projects that apply for district designation or project plan approval after this date.

Son Deok-hwan, Head of the Metropolitan Transportation Policy Division at the Metropolitan Area Wide-area Transportation Committee, said, "Through this amendment to the enforcement decree, we expect that the shortage of metropolitan transportation facilities caused by project splitting and adjacent development will be alleviated and the transportation inconvenience of residents will be resolved."