Uijeongbu City Announces "Top 10 Bus Service Innovation Plans" to Redesign Citizens' Mobility Rights
Reducing Route Overlaps, Strengthening Connections... Transitioning to a Transportation System Linking Living Zones
Pursuing 10 Key Initiatives Across 3 Areas: Route Redesign, Living Zone Connectivity, and System Reconstruction
Eliminating Redundant and Long-Distance Routes to Reduce Waste and Improve Travel Time and Dispatch Efficiency
Enhancing Transportation Quality with AI Data-Driven Operations Management and an Integrated Bus Brand
"We will redesign Uijeongbu's bus routes and establish a bus system tailored to local living zones, aiming to provide transportation services on par with those in Seoul. Our goal is to ensure that every citizen can travel faster and more conveniently, and we will continue to make improvements toward this end."
Kim Donggeun, mayor of Uijeongbu City, is announcing the "Top 10 Bus Service Innovation Plans" at the city hall briefing room on the 18th. Photo by Lee Jonggu
On the 18th, Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Donggeun held a press conference in the city hall briefing room, announcing the "Top 10 Bus Service Innovation Plans" and stating, "We will completely overhaul the bus services that serve as the lifeline for our citizens, achieving a major transformation into a 'transportation welfare city.'" The new plan aims to eliminate inefficient overlapping routes and introduce a data-driven, scientific dispatch system, with the vision of delivering a transportation revolution that every citizen can feel.
A New Leap for Bus Welfare... Enhancing Accessibility through Mobility Rights Redesign
The city will first take bold action to address inefficient overlapping and long-distance routes.
City buses will be reorganized around railway stations to create efficient routes, achieving 'practical innovation' by reducing intervals between buses without increasing the fleet size. Additionally, the city will expand metropolitan buses to Seoul and demand-responsive "Smart Bus" services, and fully introduce dedicated school buses that reflect students' commuting patterns, aiming to increase satisfaction among both parents and students.
Uijeongbu City, in particular, faces structural limitations such as bus service competitiveness at only about 50% of Seoul's level, significant gaps in intervals and operating hours, and declining efficiency relative to fiscal expenditure. The city believes now is the time for a comprehensive overhaul of the bus system.
The "Top 10 Bus Service Innovation Plans" are based on the city's accumulated operational data and policy experience, consisting of 10 key initiatives across three areas: ▲Route Redesign (4 items) ▲Living Zone Connectivity (3 items) ▲System Reconstruction (3 items).
In the route redesign area, the city will expand metropolitan buses to Seoul and Uijeongbu Smart Bus (demand-responsive transport) services to improve accessibility between downtown Seoul and key local hubs.
Furthermore, the city will fully expand dedicated school buses, operating customized routes that reflect the distribution of schools and commuting patterns, thereby reducing the burden of travel during school commute times and enhancing satisfaction for both students and parents.
For city buses, the city will consolidate overlapping routes and shorten long-distance routes to reorganize the network efficiently around railway stations. By maximizing the use of existing vehicles, the city will reduce intervals between buses without increasing the fleet, thereby improving operational efficiency.
This approach will not only reduce travel time for citizens but also alleviate the fiscal burden associated with the public management system.
Kim Donggeun, mayor of Uijeongbu City, is announcing the "Top 10 Bus Service Innovation Plans" at the city hall briefing room on the 18th. Photo by Lee Jonggu
Establishing a Circulation System Connecting Living Zones... Uniting the East and West into One City
To address the long-standing issue of disconnection between the eastern and western living zones, a "circulation-based transportation system" will be introduced.
The city will reorganize the village bus system based on living zones such as Heungseon, Howon, Singok, and Songsan, and launch the Uijeongbu City Circulation Bus to connect major hubs-including railway stations, large hospitals, city hall, and traditional markets-into a single circulation network.
Additionally, the city will gradually expand depots and transfer centers to reduce deadhead mileage, and minimize transfer distances between buses, railways, and village buses, thereby enhancing both operational efficiency and dispatch stability.
With the establishment of this circulation-based transportation system, travel between the east and west of Uijeongbu, as well as between residential and commercial areas, will become much more convenient. Citizens will directly experience changes in transportation in their daily lives, transforming Uijeongbu into a city focused on everyday mobility.
System Reconstruction... Data-Driven Transportation Administration
The city will also pursue the scientific advancement of administration. In the system reconstruction area, Uijeongbu will build an AI-based "Uijeongbu Bus Data System" to analyze demand by time and region, and scientifically adjust dispatch, routes, and operating hours.
This will establish a data-driven decision-making system in policy processes, replacing reliance on experience or estimation, and provide citizens with more accurate and predictable bus services.
The city will also develop a "Uijeongbu-style bus brand," applying integrated design to buses, stops, shelters, and the overall information system, thereby refining the city's image and improving the readability and accessibility of transportation facilities.
Completing a Citizen-Centered Transportation City through Phased Implementation
Uijeongbu City will implement these innovation plans in phases. Next year, the city will prioritize high-impact initiatives such as expanding metropolitan bus services to Seoul and launching the Uijeongbu City Circulation Bus, and will use accumulated data to complete a long-term bus innovation model.
The city expects that, through this bus service innovation, buses will become more than just a means of transportation-they will serve as essential infrastructure that transforms the daily lives and urban structure of Uijeongbu citizens.
Mayor Kim Donggeun said, "Buses are not just a means of transportation, but essential infrastructure that determines the quality of life for citizens. By combining data with feedback from the field, we will achieve a customized transportation revolution unique to Uijeongbu."
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