Pyeongtaek City Discusses Major Regional Transit Issues with Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Chair to Realize 'Pyeongtaek 30-Minute Living Sphere'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] On the 29th, Pyeongtaek City visited the Metropolitan Transit Committee of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Chair Kim Yong-seok, Metropolitan Transit Committee) and proposed major regional transit issues to enhance citizens' commute convenience and realize the 'Pyeongtaek 30-Minute Living Sphere.'

During this meeting, △selection of 2 new metropolitan bus routes for semi-public operation by the Metropolitan Transit Committee (Ji-Je Station~Sosabul District~Yongjon-ji District~Kyungdae Station, Seojong-ri Station~Songtan Terminal~Brain City~Sadang Station) △request for increased metropolitan bus service (Routes M5438 and 5503) and deployment of double-decker buses to minimize citizen inconvenience during peak commute hours △in-depth discussion centered on transportation issues that citizens can directly experience, including reflection of the 'Ji-Je Station Area Public Housing Complex' regional transit improvement plan.

Given that regional transit demand traveling to and from Seoul and the Capital Region continues to increase due to rapid urban growth, industrial complex development, and population growth, the city actively requested support to expand metropolitan bus routes under the Metropolitan Transit Committee's semi-public operation system to improve citizens' commute convenience.

Furthermore, the city explained the necessity of increasing metropolitan bus service to minimize citizen inconvenience during peak commute hours when currently operating metropolitan buses experience high congestion, and requested active cooperation from the Metropolitan Transit Committee to enable citizens to use public transportation more safely and comfortably.

Additionally, to proactively respond to increased traffic demand from the development of the Ji-Je Station Area Public Housing Complex, the city requested that necessary infrastructure such as roads be sufficiently reflected in the 'Ji-Je Station Area Public Housing Complex' regional transit improvement plan.

Mayor Choi Won-yong stated, "As Pyeongtaek grows into a core city leading the Republic of Korea's future industries, expansion of regional transit has become an increasingly important task," and added, "We will closely cooperate with related agencies including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Metropolitan Transit Committee to address citizens' most pressing commute inconveniences and realize the 'Pyeongtaek 30-Minute Living Sphere' that more densely connects all of Pyeongtaek."

He further stated, "Going forward, we will actively develop necessary regional transit projects to improve the transportation environment that citizens can experience in their daily lives, and concentrate all administrative efforts on securing national funding and policy implementation."