'Commuting Traffic Congestion' Expansion of Metropolitan and City Buses in Pyeongtaek Godeok and Incheon Geomdan

City buses, village buses, and intercity buses connecting to downtown Seoul will be expanded in Pyeongtaek Godeok, Incheon Geomdan, and Paju Unjeong districts, where commuting traffic congestion is severe.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Area Wide-area Transportation Committee announced on the 1st special wide-area transportation measures and short-term supplementary measures for Pyeongtaek Godeok, Incheon Geomdan, Paju Unjeong 1, 2, and 3, and Osan Segyo 2 districts. These districts are included among the 37 areas designated as focused management zones by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport due to the urgent need to improve transportation inconvenience.

According to the special measures, in Pyeongtaek Godeok, city buses and village buses will be increased to improve accessibility to Seojeong-ri Station (Line 1), Pyeongtaek Jije Station (Line 1·SRT), and major intercity bus stops. One new city bus route and two new village bus routes will be established, and existing routes 1452 (4 buses), 33A (1 bus), and 33B (1 bus) will be increased.

In areas without formal bus routes due to insufficient travel demand in the early stages of settlement, 15 demand-responsive transport (DRT) vehicles will operate. Additionally, intercity buses directly connecting Pyeongtaek Godeok Internationalization Planning District and Seoul Gangnam will be expanded, with one double-decker electric bus deployed on this route.

In Incheon Geomdan district, two intercity bus routes (1100 and 1101), which had been reduced due to decreased demand from COVID-19, will be normalized in the second half of this year. Seven city bus routes (1, 75, 77, Circular 83, eEum 89, 583, and 87) operating between Geomam Station and Gyeyang Station will each have 1 to 3 additional buses added.

In the first half of the year, three new city bus routes connecting the Airport Railroad with Gyeyang Station, Pungmu Station, and Wanjeong Station will be established. The number of DRT vehicles operating to Gyeyang Station, Wanjeong Station, and Dokjeong Station will be increased, and the fare for the 16-seat I-MOD service will be reduced from 1,800 won to 1,250 won. In Paju Unjeong 1 and 2 districts and Paju Unjeong 3 district, two village bus routes operating to Yadang Station (Gyeongui-Jungang Line) will be increased, and the intervals between buses will be shortened. Also, two new village bus routes passing through Unjeong Station will be established in line with the opening of GTX-A, and the number of DRT 'Ttok Bus' vehicles in Paju City will be increased from 10 to 15.

In Osan Segyo 2 district, one new city bus route passing through the district and connecting nearby railway stations will be established. The special wide-area transportation measures for Pyeongtaek Godeok district have completed the final review process and have been given mandatory status. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated that the short-term supplementary measures for Incheon Geomdan and Paju Unjeong districts will be reflected in the wide-area transportation improvement plans and implemented without delay.