Gyeonggi Transportation Headquarters Opens on 10th...Laying Foundation for Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation Establishment

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hoon Reporter] The Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation held an opening ceremony for the Gyeonggi Transportation Headquarters on the 10th, laying the foundation for its full-scale establishment.

The opening ceremony held that morning at the Northern Headquarters of Gyeonggi Urban Development Corporation was attended by approximately 40 officials including Lee Hwa-soon, Vice Governor for Administration, An Byung-yong, Chairman of the Gyeonggi Mayors and Governors Council, Kim Won-gi, Vice Speaker of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly, Kim Myung-won, Chairman of the Construction and Transportation Committee of the Provincial Assembly, and Lee Heon-wook, President of Gyeonggi Urban Development Corporation, along with provincial and municipal officials, provincial assembly members, related organizations, and academics.

The Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation is a dedicated transport policy agency that will integrate and manage the public transit system of 31 cities and counties in the province. The seventh democratic election-era Gyeonggi Province has pursued its establishment to provide residents with more professional and efficient public transportation services.

Its main functions include integrated management of buses, railways, and other transportation modes across 31 cities and counties in the province, operation and management of semi-public bus services using the route bidding method, expansion of metropolitan transit facilities such as transfer parking lots and transfer stops, and operation of new transportation modes such as on-demand buses.

Since the route bidding method semi-public service pilot project will begin next year, the province plans to launch the Gyeonggi Transportation Headquarters first to complete preparations for projects to be carried out by the corporation and minimize initial operational trial-and-error.

The Gyeonggi Transportation Headquarters will focus on preparing for the establishment of the transportation corporation, designing projects to be carried out by the corporation, and implementing the semi-public service pilot project. Subsequently, the province plans to complete a feasibility review project for the establishment of the Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation, which is currently being conducted through the Local Government Enterprise Evaluation Institute by the end of this year, and then open the Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation within next year following final consultation procedures with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Following the opening ceremony of the Gyeonggi Transportation Headquarters, the province signed a 'Gyeonggi-type Semi-public Service (Route Bidding Method) Implementation Business Agreement' with 19 cities and counties including Yongin, Seongnam, Bucheon, Hwaseong, Anyang, Siheung, Paju, Uijeongbu, Gimpo, Gwangju, Gwangmyeong, Yangju, Icheon, Guri, Uiwang, Yangpyeong, Dongducheon, Gwacheon, and Yeoncheon, as well as Gyeonggi Urban Development Corporation, which are participating in the route bidding method semi-public service.

In the agreement signed that day, it was promised that ▲Gyeonggi Province would oversee policy overall, including formulation of promotion plans, selection of routes, and establishment of operational standards, ▲cities and counties would be responsible for route discovery, issuance of limited licenses, and route management, and ▲Gyeonggi Urban Development Corporation would be responsible for route bidding, transportation cost settlement, and service evaluation.

The 'Route Bidding Method Semi-public Service' differs from private enterprise operating under permanent licenses, in that the public owns bus routes and grants limited licenses to transportation operators selected through competitive bidding to outsource bus operations.

By promoting financial support based on market prices, license renewal and performance profit distribution based on service evaluation, more transparent and efficient operations are expected compared to the existing semi-public service model.

In particular, the province plans to lower entry barriers so that new operators capable of securing transportation facilities such as vehicles and depots can also participate, thereby inducing fair competition.

The province will issue bidding notices for 16 express bus routes (direct seating-type intercity buses) in October to recruit transportation operators participating in the semi-public service pilot project.

The 16 routes include 4 non-profit return/discontinued routes (Deokjeong Vehicle Depot to Beomgyae Station, Dankook University to Yeouido, Hosu Village to Dangsan Station, Songnae Station to KTX Gwangmyeong Station), 3 underserved area consideration routes (Icheon Station to Jamsil Station, Sintanri Station to Dobongsan Station, Yongmun Terminal to Gangbyeon Station), and 9 residential development district routes (Gwangju Terminal to Samsung Station, Galmaae Station to Jamsil Station, Deokjeong Station to Sangbong Station, Intercity Bus Terminal to Jamsil Station, Dongtan 2 to Jamsil Station, Jangan Village to Yangjae Station, Maesuri Village to Dangsan Station, Neungok Vehicle Depot to Sadang Station, Unjeong New City to Hongdae Entrance Station).

Vice Governor Lee Hwa-soon said, "Starting with the opening of the Gyeonggi Transportation Headquarters, we will promote policies to strengthen the public nature of the transportation sector, including successful implementation of the route bidding method semi-public service," and "We will do our best to proceed with the transportation corporation establishment without delay so that all residents can fully enjoy transportation welfare."