'BTX' to Run on Olympic-daero and Gangbyeonbuk-ro

New Metropolitan Area BRT Project (Data provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] A new concept bus transit service called BTX (Bus Transit eXpress) will be operated on Olympic-daero and Gangbyeonbuk-ro. Major transportation hubs such as Sangbong Station and Yeouido Station will be developed into complex transfer centers linked with commercial facilities.

On the 29th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport unveiled the basic plan and implementation plan containing these details at the public hearing for the "2nd Metropolitan Transportation Basic Plan (2021?2040) and 4th Metropolitan Transportation Implementation Plan (2021?2025)" hosted by the Korea Transport Institute.

The basic plan is the highest-level long-term statutory plan in the transportation sector targeting metropolitan areas, presenting a macro-level direction for improving metropolitan transportation systems by region every 20 years. The implementation plan proposes a five-year expansion plan for metropolitan transportation facilities in line with the direction of the metropolitan transportation basic plan.

This basic plan and implementation plan were established considering consistency with national plans such as the 5th National Comprehensive Land Plan, 2nd National Core Transportation Network Plan, 2nd National Core Network Construction Plan, 2nd National Road Network Comprehensive Plan, and 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan.

The basic plan predicted future anticipated problems through analysis of regional transportation networks and suggested solutions. The implementation plan selected metropolitan transportation facilities (draft) such as metropolitan roads, metropolitan railways, metropolitan BRT, transfer centers, and complex transfer centers through multifaceted review.

First, the basic plan includes infrastructure expansion measures to secure the basic right to metropolitan travel. It aims to realize a 30-minute living zone through the establishment of a metropolitan express railway network and improve metropolitan congestion by restoring road trunk functions.

BTX, S-BRT, trams, and other low-cost, high-efficiency public transportation will be expanded, and new concept transfer facilities preparing for future transportation, such as transfer centers centered on the 'Metropolitan Express Railway (GTX) Triangle' (Seoul Station, Cheongnyangni Station, Samsung Station), will be established.

The national government-owned metropolitan bus quasi-public operation system (route bidding system) will be expanded, and fare diversification for metropolitan transportation modes, integrated transfer discounts, and the Eoljuka transportation card will be implemented nationwide. Additionally, the plan includes phased expansion of hydrogen buses, expansion of eco-friendly large-capacity buses (such as double-decker electric buses), introduction of hydrogen electric trams, and establishment of eco-friendly charging facilities at transfer hubs.

New Metropolitan Area Transfer Center Project (Data provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

In the metropolitan area, the BTX promotion plan draws attention. BTX is a new concept bus service with punctuality and large-capacity transport capability similar to railways. It uses movable central dividers to flexibly adjust lanes according to commuting traffic conditions. By creating exclusive high-speed lanes, buses can run quickly without congestion, reducing travel time.

BTX will operate on sections such as Haengju-daero to Dangsan Station (west) and Suseok IC to Gangbyeon Station (east). When BTX is introduced on Gangbyeonbuk-ro, bus travel time is expected to be reduced from 62 minutes to 32 minutes, and on Olympic-daero, from 93 minutes to 60 minutes.

Other new metropolitan BRT projects in the metropolitan area include Seongnam to Bokjeong Station BRT (Bokjeong Station to Namhansanseong Entrance), Cheongnyangni to Donong to Pyeongnae Hopyeong Metropolitan BRT (Cheongnyangni to Pyeongnae Hopyeong Station), and Gyeyang-Daejang Metropolitan BRT (Gyeyang to Bucheon Sports Complex Station, Bakchon Station to Gimpo Airport Station), all included in the implementation plan.

A total of 21 new transfer centers will be established in the metropolitan area. Newly established transfer centers include Cheongnyangni Station, Seoul Station, Yangjae Station, Unjeong Station, Dongtan Station, Bucheon Sports Complex Station, Uijeongbu Station, Deokjeong Station, Bupyeong Station, Incheon City Hall Station, Incheon National University Station, Choryeok Station, Guri Station, and Ajou University Samgeori Station. Complex transfer centers with commercial facilities will be built at Sangbong Station, Yeouido Station, Changdong Station, Yongin Station, Geumjeong Station, Daegok Station, and Indeokwon Station.

Metropolitan rail projects in the metropolitan area included in the implementation plan are Daejang-Hongdae Line (Bucheon Daejang to Hongdae Entrance), Wirye Gwacheon Line (Bokjeong to Government Gwacheon Office), Sin-Guro Line (Siheung Daeya to Mokdong), 2nd Gyeongin Line (Cheonghak to Noeunsa), Byeollae Line extension (Byeollae Station to Byeollaram Station), Gangdong-Hanam-Namyangju Line (Gangdong to Hanam to Namyangju), Incheon Line 2 extension (Incheon Seo-gu to Goyang Ilsan Seo-gu), Goyang Eunpyeong Line (Saejeol to Goyang City Hall), Western Metropolitan Express Railway (Janggi to Bucheon Sports Complex), Songpa-Hanam Line (Ogeum to Hanam City Hall), Wirye Samdong Line (Wirye to Samdong), Bundang Line (Wangsimni to Cheongnyangni), Bundang Line extension (Giheung to Osan), Ilsan Line extension (Daehwa to Geumneung), and Shinbundang Line (Homaesil to Bongdam).