Gyeonggi Province Invests 45.3 Billion Won to Expand Bus Infrastructure...Enhancing Service Fairness

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Noh-hun] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 12th that it will expand and improve bus infrastructure including depots, bus stops, and terminals to enhance the convenience of bus use for residents.

This initiative aims to open an era of public transportation that is safe, convenient, and ensures public interest, investing a total of 45.3 billion won across four major areas: ①expansion of publicly-operated depots, ②improvement of depots, ③improvement of bus stops, and ④improvement of aging terminals.

In particular, this year the projects will be pursued as pilot programs, with a comprehensive evaluation of project results planned for phased expansion starting next year. Currently, a research project for "Establishment and Management Basic Plan for Bus Infrastructure" is underway to develop concrete implementation plans through 2025.

First, to expand 'publicly-operated depots,' which account for only 20% (32 locations) of the 157 bus depots across the province, a total of 84 billion won will be invested from this year through 2024 to establish an additional two publicly-operated depots, one each in Goyang and Pyeongtaek.

This is to eliminate the monopoly of specific companies in bus operations and secure public interest. Subsequently, through research projects, the province plans to comprehensively analyze optimal locations for regional publicly-operated bus depots and establish medium- to long-term investment strategies.

In addition, to guarantee rest conditions and enhance convenience for transportation workers, improve the overall quality of public transportation services, and establish a foundation for expanding eco-friendly electric buses to reduce fine dust, a total of 5 billion won will be invested this year.

In reality, the installation rates of electric bus charging facilities, car wash facilities, and rest facilities for transportation workers in depots are only 3.8% (6 locations), 63.1% (99 locations), and 67.5% (106 locations), respectively.

As part of this, the province will support the installation of electric bus charging facilities at 19 depots across 13 cities and counties, and support automatic car wash facilities at 10 depots across 7 cities and counties.

Furthermore, rest facility construction and improvement projects will be pursued at 15 depots across 10 cities and counties.

Bus stop shelters and convenience facilities will also be significantly improved.

A total of 7.9 billion won will be invested to install and replace shelters at 169 bus stops, and convenience facilities including heated seats, heating and cooling systems, and bus arrival information display systems (BIT) will be expanded at 364 bus stops.

Additionally, through future research projects, Gyeonggi Province plans to establish service level guidelines for bus stops, present minimum service standards according to the number of passengers, transit routes, and number of operating buses, and improve facilities accordingly.

Improvement projects for aging bus terminals will also be pursued.

Currently, 17 terminals that are over 20 years old represent 54.8% of all terminals (31 total), and the deterioration of such buildings and ancillary facilities is deemed to be preventing adequate service provision.

Considering the shortage of investment capacity for terminal operators due to the sharp decline in passengers from COVID-19, this year one location (Suwon Bus Terminal) has been selected as a pilot project target, and a total of 1.36 billion won will be provided to pursue remodeling of the waiting room and improvement and expansion of convenience facilities.

Park Tae-hwan, director of the Transportation Bureau, stated, "Bus infrastructure is a living social overhead capital closely related to residents' daily lives, and we have decided to pursue facility investment projects for the first time this year with a medium- to long-term perspective to fundamentally improve bus services," adding, "Through substantive implementation including project evaluation, we will make significant efforts to contribute to improving residents' transportation convenience and quality of life."