Hwaseong Urban Corporation Holds Awards Ceremony for '2024 Hwaseong Hope Bus New Route Contest'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Min-jeong Lee] Hwaseong Urban Corporation (President Kim Geun-young, hereinafter HU Corporation) held an awards ceremony on the 12th for outstanding entries in the '2024 Hwaseong Hope Bus New Route Contest' conducted from July to August targeting HU Corporation executives and employees as well as Hwaseong Citizen Monitoring Group members.

The contest was conducted around four themes to discover creative ideas for improving the city's public transportation system and balanced development: △routes contributing to Dongtan Station activation △routes in transportation-deprived areas such as industrial complexes △routes improving the southwestern region's transportation system △routes promoting balanced development between east and west.

A total of 38 proposals were submitted to the contest. An internal and external evaluation committee comprised of members from HU Corporation, Hwaseong City, and Hwaseong Research Institute evaluated the submissions based on effectiveness, feasibility, appropriateness, creativity, and effort level, selecting a total of 6 award-winning entries: △1 Grand Prize △2 Grand Excellence Awards △3 Excellence Awards.

HU Corporation Assistant Manager Hong Woo-seok's proposal for the 'seat-type route between Namyang-Eocheon Station-Bongdam-Hyangnam' won the Grand Prize. This route received high marks as a novel idea that improves transportation-deprived areas and enhances citizens' access to public transportation by connecting KTX Eocheon Station and major hubs in the western region.

The Grand Excellence Awards were given to the 'direct express seat-type route between Namyang-Bongdam-Byeongjeom-Dongtan Station-Everland' and the 'direct express seat-type route between Hyangnam-Byeongjeom-Dongtan 1-Dongtan Station.' Both routes were recognized as effective proposals promoting Dongtan Station activation and balanced development between east and west. In particular, the route directly connecting Dongtan and Everland received high praise for addressing the existing shortage.

Additionally, 'circulation route in Dongtan 1 and 2 new towns,' 'route between Songsan-Namyang-Eocheon Station-Bongdam-Byeongjeom-Dongtan Station,' and 'route between Banjeong-dong-Banwol High School-Neung-dong High School-Anhwa High School-Dongtan High School-Seodongtan Station' were selected as Excellence Awards.

HU Corporation President Kim Geun-young stated, "I am pleased that this contest uncovered novel ideas capable of addressing public transportation issues that citizens and employees actually experience," and added, "Going forward, we will continue to pursue citizen-centered transportation improvement policies and do our best to ensure citizens enjoy more convenient and efficient public transportation services."