"Essential for Regional Balanced Development"
Seongbuk-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) announced on the 27th that it delivered a petition containing the strong desire of Seongbuk residents for the swift re-promotion of the Gangbuk Transversal Line to the National Assembly on the 26th.
Present at the event were five resident representatives, Mayor Lee Seung-ro of Seongbuk-gu, and National Assembly member Kim Young-bae (Democratic Party, Seoul Seongbuk-gu Gap). They visited the office of Maeng Sung-kyu, chairman of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, to convey the strong desire of Seongbuk residents for the swift re-promotion of the Gangbuk Transversal Line and requested the government's attention and response.
Seongbuk-gu, Seoul delivered a petition containing the residents' strong desire for the swift re-promotion of the Gangbuk Transversal Line to the National Assembly on the 26th. The photo shows the Seongbuk-gu resident delegation shouting "Fighting for the swift re-promotion of the Gangbuk Transversal Line" together with Maeng Seong-gyu, Chairman of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee (front row, center), Kim Young-bae, Member of the National Assembly for Seongbuk-gu Gap, Seoul (back row, center), and Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu (front row, first on the right). Provided by Seongbuk-gu. Photo by Seongbuk-gu.
The Seongbuk-gu resident delegation stated, “Almost all Seongbuk residents, except children, participated in the petition with a desperate desire to solve local traffic problems and achieve balanced development,” and Chairman Maeng Sung-kyu responded, “It is the role of the government to alleviate the inconvenience of the people,” adding, “It seems necessary to discuss improving the preliminary feasibility study, which currently places a high emphasis on economic efficiency.”
Mayor Lee Seung-ro of Seongbuk-gu said, “More than 260,000 people, over 60% of Seongbuk residents, participated in the petition within a short period, showing the residents’ urgent and strong will to solve traffic problems that they feel most directly in their daily lives and to promote balanced regional development. We visited the National Assembly to appeal to the government following Seoul City,” adding, “The government’s attention is necessary to ensure that the Gangbuk Transversal Line is realized for the future of Seongbuk-gu.”
The district conducted a “Gangbuk Transversal Line Swift Re-promotion Nationwide Petition Campaign” for one month starting October 18, aiming for 100,000 signatures. However, with the active participation of Seongbuk residents, officials and students from eight universities in the district, and religious organizations, 260,000 people signed. On the 29th of last month, the district delivered the petition to Seoul City along with resident representatives.
The Gangbuk Transversal Line is a 25.72 km route passing east to west through seven autonomous districts including Cheongnyangni, Jongam, Gireum, Jeongneung, and Mok-dong. It was planned as a Seoul City financial project worth 2 trillion won. Based on Jeongneung in Seongbuk-gu, travel times would be reduced by 30%, such as 9 minutes to Cheongnyangni and 30 minutes to Mok-dong. It was expected to have a significant ripple effect by connecting with four lines: Jeongneung Station (Ui-Sinseol Line), Gireum Station (Line 4), Jongam Station (Dongbuk Line), and Wolgok Station (Line 6).
However, due to the route’s characteristics passing through mountainous areas, relatively high costs were required while demand was predicted to be low, resulting in failure to pass the preliminary feasibility study review by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance in June.
The district regards the Gangbuk Transversal Line as an essential project for improving transportation conditions between northeast and southwest Seoul and for balanced regional development, and plans to focus administrative efforts on the swift promotion of the project.
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