Incheon City is set to discover new routes for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
The city announced on the 18th that it has launched the 'BRT Basic Plan and Feasibility Study' aiming to be included in the 'Comprehensive Plan for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)' to be established by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport next year.
The city plans to select the optimal routes by June next year through an analysis of expected effects and economic feasibility of converting major trunk corridors with high public transportation demand in Incheon into central bus-only lanes. If the routes selected through this study are reflected in the Ministry of Land's BRT comprehensive plan, a system basis for receiving national funding support (50% for metropolitan areas, 25% for urban areas) will be established.
Earlier, last year, the city analyzed the 'Current Status and Operation of Existing Roadside Bus-Only Lanes' as a policy research project through the Incheon Research Institute, Incheon's think tank. As a result, it concluded that the introduction of central bus-only lanes is necessary for efficient bus operation and selected six candidate sites that meet installation standards.
BRT is a transportation system that operates express buses equipped with dedicated lanes, priority treatment at intersections, dedicated stops, and exclusive vehicles. Compared to other transportation modes such as urban rail or trams, it offers high efficiency with shorter project durations and lower costs. Currently, Incheon operates one BRT route (No. 7700) on a 47.6 km round-trip section connecting Cheongna and Gangseo in Seoul.
A customer satisfaction survey conducted in August last year showed a high satisfaction rate of 96% for the 'Cheongna-Gangseo trunk BRT.' As the number of BRT users increases annually, the city is expanding the number of vehicles and frequency of operation to meet demand.
An official from Incheon City stated, "There is a need to discover additional BRT routes across Incheon, including the old downtown area," adding, "By introducing central bus lanes and enhancing connectivity with existing roadside bus-only lanes, we will secure bus punctuality and provide convenience of movement to citizens."
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