Gyeonggi-do Expands City Bus 'Quasi-Public Operation System' to All Routes

Early Completion by 2025

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Gyeonggi Province has announced a new city bus stabilization plan that promotes the introduction of a quasi-public operation system to all city bus routes.

This is part of the 'Implementation of Quasi-Public Operation System for City Buses,' a transportation pledge of the 8th Gyeonggi Province administration, and it expands on the 'Comprehensive City Bus Stabilization Plan' announced on the 15th.

Accordingly, the province plans to expand the target routes for the quasi-public operation system from the initially planned 200 non-profitable, essential, and public-interest routes between cities and counties to all routes.

The timeline has also been advanced by one year to complete the implementation by 2025. The province will take full charge of managing and converting these routes.

Routes operated by cities and counties will be managed by each city and county for the introduction of the quasi-public operation system, but the province will support related finances to enable the implementation of the quasi-public operation system on all city bus routes within the province.

The province is also considering promoting the quasi-public operation system not through a 'route bidding quasi-public operation system' but through a 'revenue joint management type' when fully implementing the system.

Park No-geuk, Director of the Transportation Bureau, said, "This expanded plan will be pursued through continuous open communication and consultation with labor, cities and counties, and stakeholders to seek practical solutions."

Earlier, on the 15th, the province announced a 'Comprehensive City Bus Stabilization Plan' including the expansion of the quasi-public operation system, improvement of transportation workers' treatment, and management support for private companies to overcome difficulties in the bus industry and guarantee public transportation rights for residents.