"At Least 20% of New Town Project Funds Should Be Allocated to Metropolitan Transportation"
City Urges Measures Such as Masong?Dongtan Expressway and Extension of Shinbundang Line to Bongdam
Hwaseong City in Gyeonggi Province has called for the early expansion of the metropolitan transportation network in response to the move-in of new towns such as the Jin'an and Bongdam 3 public housing districts.
On November 26, Hwaseong City announced that it had submitted a "Proposal for the Inclusion of Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Measures for the Hwaseong Jin'an and Bongdam 3 Public Housing Districts" to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH), and Gyeonggi Province.
The Jin'an and Bongdam 3 districts, for which the city is demanding metropolitan transportation improvement measures, are large-scale residential development zones that will accommodate 34,089 and 18,306 households, respectively.
The city is concerned that, even now, roads in the Bongdam and Jin'an areas experience severe congestion during commuting hours, and that traffic congestion and inconvenience for residents will sharply increase once move-ins to the two districts begin in earnest.
In its proposal, the city requested that, in consideration of fairness with other third-phase new towns in the metropolitan area, at least 20% of the total project cost be secured in advance for metropolitan transportation improvement measures. Additionally, the city proposed that the measures include the Masong-Dongtan expressway as a private investment project, as well as the inclusion of the Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway and the extension of the Shinbundang Line to Bongdam in the metropolitan rail network.
The city especially emphasized that, in order to uphold the principle of "transportation measures first, move-ins later," the finalization of the metropolitan transportation improvement plan should be postponed until a concrete implementation plan for the Masong-Dongtan expressway or an equivalent metropolitan transportation measure is established.
The city plans to actively respond by continuing consultations with relevant agencies, submitting joint proposals, and identifying additional measures, so that its requests are fully reflected in the metropolitan transportation improvement plan.
Jung Myunggeun, Mayor of Hwaseong City, stated, "The Jin'an and Bongdam 3 districts are projects that will have a significant impact on the transportation system and urban structure of southwestern metropolitan Gyeonggi, so proactive and balanced transportation measures must be established." He added, "We will work closely with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, LH, and Gyeonggi Province to ensure that practical metropolitan transportation measures that residents can truly feel are established and implemented."
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