Gyeonggi Province Public Buses Begin First Operations Under Semi-Public Management Model on March 1st
Suwon NewsPublished 2020.03.01 06:37
Pilot project covers 16 routes across 19 cities and counties from March 1st to April 1stIntroduces express routes, driver courtesy certification system, and passenger convenience features for enhanced bus services
[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] The 'Gyeonggi Province Public Bus,' to be operated under the Gyeonggi-style semi-public management model, began its first operations on March 1st.
The 'Gyeonggi Province Public Bus' is a bus service for which the public owns the routes and delegates operational rights for a set period to private transportation operators selected through competitive bidding via a 'route bidding system,' with the province and relevant cities and counties ensuring service responsibility.
The province plans to sequentially begin operations starting March 1st through April 1st for 16 routes across 19 cities and counties designated as pilot project targets.
Specifically, starting March 1st, 3 routes in 2 cities—Gimpo (routes G6001, G6003) and Yongin (route 7007-1)—began operations.
Subsequently, operations will commence on route 8906 in Yangju on the 9th, route G3202 in Gwangju on the 13th, routes G3900 in Uiwang and G2100 in Icheon on the 17th, route G6000 in Uijeongbu on the 19th, route G9311 in Yangpyeong on the 20th, route G1200 in Yangju on the 24th, and route G1690 in Guri on the 27th, for a total of 8 additional routes.
Subsequently, 2 routes—G6009 in Hwaseong and route 3301 in Siheung—will begin operations on the 30th, and 3 routes—route G2001 in Yeoncheon, route 3100 in Paju, and route G8808 in Bucheon—will commence on April 1st.
The 'Gyeonggi Province Public Bus' is characterized by providing services differentiated from existing metropolitan buses that residents can directly experience, as a means of reinforcing 'public interest.'
By introducing a 'driver courtesy certification system,' all bus transport workers will be required to complete mandatory courtesy training operated by the public sector. The province plans to offer incentives to certified workers verified through post-operation monitoring, thereby encouraging 'courteous service.'
Additionally, routes in Paju and Yeoncheon will deploy 31-seater limousine buses, while other routes will use 41-seater buses, upgrading vehicle quality.
Various passenger convenience features will also be installed in vehicles, including 'public WiFi' for comfortable internet access from seats, 'air purification systems' to improve in-vehicle air quality, and 'USB charging ports' for charging mobile phones and mobile devices.
Notably, among the 16 pilot project routes, 12 routes including those in Uijeongbu and Hwaseong are 'express routes' that stop at no more than 8 stations within their areas. By operating quickly to destinations, the province is focusing on reducing residents' commute times.
Starting with these pilot project route operations, the province plans to add approximately 20 routes in the second half of this year and expand operations on a yearly basis.
Lee Yong-joo, head of the Public Bus Division, stated, "The Gyeonggi Province Public Bus will provide services that residents can directly experience, and we plan to proactively expand route operations to areas with metropolitan transit inconvenience."
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