Osan City Emerges as Transportation Hub of Southern Capital Region

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-yeong] Osan City is emerging as a transportation hub in the southern capital region.

Geographic advantage is cited as a major factor in Osan's rise as a transportation hub. Osan is located on the Gyeongbu Expressway and along National Railway and Subway Line 1, making it strategically positioned in southern Gyeonggi Province.

Consequently, Osan is emerging as a key intermediary region in recent large-scale transportation projects connecting the southern capital region.

These include GTX Lines A and C, the Dongtan Tram connection line, and the Second Capital Region Outer Ring Expressway (Bongdam to Dongtan).

The GTX-A line (Samsung to Dongtan section) recently passed preliminary feasibility assessment, and the SRT (Seoul Capital Area Express Train) project is also being pursued. Additionally, the city is collaborating with neighboring municipalities and LH to promote the Dongtan Tram, which will operate between Osan Station and Dongtan Station, as well as Banwol in Hwaseong.

When the GTX-C line (Yangju~Cheongnyangni~Samsung~Suwon) is extended to Pyeongtaek City, it is expected to connect with Subway Line 1, enabling travel to Seoul's Gangnam in about 30 minutes.

The city is also making efforts to expand the metropolitan transportation network and resolve transportation-disadvantaged areas.

Currently, six express bus routes (5300, 5300-1, 1311, 1311A, 1311B, M5532) are operating towards Seoul (Gangnam and Sadang areas). Starting on the 15th, a new express bus route 5200 connecting Cheongho-dong and Shin-Nonhyeon Station will commence operation to increase transportation convenience for new residential areas and transportation-disadvantaged regions.

With the introduction of express bus route 5200, residents of Cheongho-dong, who previously had relatively inconvenient public transportation, and young professionals who moved into Osan Cheongho Happiness Apartments now have expanded commuting options to Seoul.

Previously, there were only two city bus routes and one village bus route providing access to Dongtan Station, where residents could use SRT. However, these routes bypassed and detoured through transportation-disadvantaged areas and the outskirts of the city. Moreover, the frequency was low and the intervals between buses were long.

As a result, the existing bus routes offered poor accessibility to Dongtan Station, forcing most residents to rely on taxis or personal vehicles when using SRT.

To resolve this inconvenience of bearing double transportation costs including taxi fares and parking fees, the city has continuously consulted with Hwaseong City regarding city bus route 760. After sustained negotiations since last year, the route was extended from its former terminus at Dongtan 2 New Town Ipark Building 1 to the west side of Dongtan Station.

The number of operating buses increased from two to five, and with 40 trips per day, the interval between buses has been shortened. Route curves have been minimized to improve accessibility.

The route's starting point is Osan Station Transfer Center, which serves as the gateway to Osan where residents can transfer between national railways, subways, buses (city, intercity, express, village, and airport), and taxis in one location, making SRT even more convenient for citizens.

Residents of Jangji-dong area in Dongtan 2 New Town will also find it more convenient to use Osan Station, the nearest subway station to their residential area. This is expected to increase demand for Osan Station and activate its role as a transportation hub.

Additionally, the city plans to continue improving bus route systems, developing urban transportation model routes, expanding circular routes, expanding low-floor buses and eco-friendly electric buses for the elderly and disabled, and minimizing intervals between departures to enhance public transportation convenience.

The city expects that when the metropolitan-level transportation measures currently being pursued, along with interconnected village buses, city buses, and quasi-public buses (C1 buses) form a densely structured urban transportation network, citizens' transportation convenience will increase, raising quality of life and urban stature to the next level.

A city official stated, "When the Bundang Line extension, Dongtan Tram, subway, and express buses are connected as one, Osan City will truly emerge as a core transportation city in the southern capital region," and emphasized, "We will make every effort to develop into a more livable and vibrant city with optimal resident-oriented transportation infrastructure."