Chungnam, Gongju~Sejong 'Metropolitan BRT' Targeted to Open in 2025

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province is promoting the construction project of the metropolitan trunk bus rapid transit (BRT) system between Gongju and Sejong. The project aims to open the route in 2025.

The province announced on the 16th that it recently held a kickoff meeting for the "Gongju~Sejong Metropolitan BRT Construction Project Basic and Detailed Design Service" with the Administrative City Construction Agency, Sejong City, and Gongju City.

The Gongju~Sejong Metropolitan BRT is scheduled to operate over a total length of 18.5 km, including 10.7 km in Gongju and 7.8 km in Sejong, with a total project cost of 17.2 billion KRW invested in route construction.

The main route will pass through 12 one-way stops including Gongju Intercity Bus Terminal, Singwan Central Intersection, Beonyeong 1-ro, National Road No. 36 Seosejong IC, Government Sejong Complex, Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital, and Hanbyeol-dong.

In particular, the dedicated lane ratio for this route reaches 97%. Reflecting this, the province expects travel time to be reduced by about 18 minutes, from the current 57 minutes to 39 minutes.

Additionally, the interval between buses during peak commuting hours will be set to within 8 minutes to enhance user convenience.

The province plans to complete the detailed design service by the end of this year, start construction next year, and begin operation in the second half of 2025.

Once the Gongju~Sejong Metropolitan BRT opens, the province anticipates effects such as improvement of the public transportation system in the Happy City area, enhancement of transportation convenience for residents, increased public transit usage and contribution to carbon neutrality, activation of Baekje cultural tourism, revitalization of the local economy through regeneration of Gongju’s old downtown, mutual growth of Gongju and Sejong cities, and contribution to the establishment of the Chungcheong regional metropolitan economic living zone.

The province, the Happy City Construction Agency, Sejong City, and Gongju City have also agreed to form and operate a working-level consultative body to ensure smooth progress of the project.

A provincial official stated, “The first phase project connecting Gongju Intercity Bus Terminal and Sejong City will be completed by 2025, and the second phase project connecting Gongju city bus terminal to Gongju KTX Station, covering 21.7 km, will be sequentially promoted from 2025 to 2030.”