By 2015, a new era will dawn when the rail journey between Dongtan and Seoul takes 20 minutes, and the expressway journey takes around 30 minutes.
A metropolitan express railway (GTX) that connects Seoul's Gangnam with Dongtan 2 New City in Hwaseong in under 20 minutes is under construction, and an expressway enabling a 30-minute drive to Seoul will be completed by 2015. Additionally, two new transit routes—either bimodal trams (articulated buses) or light rail transit—will be newly established to connect with the Suwon, Yongin, and Osan areas and construct a metropolitan transit network.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has confirmed the "Dongtan 2 New City Metropolitan Traffic Improvement Plan" with these provisions. The announcement to make Dongtan 2 New City a key hub for traffic in the southern Gyeonggi region is expected to have significant implications for Suwon, a hub city in the southern metropolitan area.
● 20 Minutes by Rail, 30 Minutes by Expressway from Dongtan to Seoul
According to the metropolitan traffic improvement plan, the ministry confirmed construction of the GTX proposed by the province to connect Seoul and Dongtan 2 New City. However, if feasibility is verified through current verification studies, the Korea Land Corporation, as the business operator, will bear project costs of 800 billion won. The GTX's total project cost reaches 2 trillion won.
By 2015, the Second Outer Ring Expressway and Second Gyeongbu Expressway between Dongtan and Yongin will be constructed. On the Gyeongbu Expressway, a new Namsana interchange (IC) will be established approximately 6 kilometers south of Dongtan for smooth access to southern regions, and the connecting National Route 23 (10.9 kilometers, 396.1 billion won) will also be constructed.
A new Dongtan IC directly connected to the Second Outer Ring Expressway will be established, and Local Route 317 (Dongtan-Pyeongtaek) linked to the Yongin-Seoul Expressway will be expanded from four lanes to six lanes. New-concept transit systems will be constructed on two sections connecting Gwanggyo-Dongtan-Osan and Byeongjeom-Dongtan linking the Suwon, Yongin, and Osan areas. The ministry is currently reviewing the introduction of articulated buses or light rail transit, with estimated costs of 1.77 trillion won.
The nation's largest bicycle road network will be constructed to raise bicycles' share of transportation to 20 percent, the advanced country level. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to construct a state-of-the-art integrated transfer center to enable transfers between various transit modes, developing Dongtan into a new city centered on public transportation. Upon completion of Dongtan 2 New City's metropolitan transit facilities, the ministry expects an era of "20 minutes by rail, 30 minutes by expressway" travel between Dongtan and Seoul to arrive.
● Suwon's Internal Circulation Light Rail Transit Stalled
Considering the metropolitan transit network, Suwon's independent light rail transit project is expected to face substantial difficulties in advancement. Following the province's application of the brakes to local governments' independent light rail projects, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is also expected to serve as a new variable through the introduction of articulated buses or light rail connecting Suwon and Dongtan.
The province has enacted an "Ordinance Regarding the Implementation of Urban Rail Transit Projects" requiring municipalities to mandatorily consult with the province from the initial stage when pursuing urban rail transit (light rail) projects and reflect such plans in their business strategies. The province holds the view that light rail transit project implementation considering connectivity with surrounding municipalities is necessary.
Therefore, it is anticipated that light rail transit plans considering connections with the Yongin Light Rail Transit, which will begin operations next year, or connectivity with Dongtan 2 New City's metropolitan transit network will be required. Additionally, it remains unclear whether the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will introduce bimodal trams—which combine the environmental friendliness of buses with the performance of rail vehicles—or light rail transit as a new-concept transit system. The ministry plans to issue a feasibility study to make this determination.
Synthesizing the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and provincial traffic network plans, Suwon's proposed independent internal circulation-type transit line appears inevitable for revision. A city council member stated, "If accessibility improves, Suwon's living zone will extend to Dongtan, making it impossible to consider only internal demand," and emphasized, "Moreover, to construct a transit network befitting the role of a hub city in southern Gyeonggi, surrounding areas like Dongtan cannot be overlooked."
Meanwhile, while the ministry's proposed route lacks specificity, it is expected to not significantly differ from the private light rail transit route connecting Gwanggyo-Yeongdeungpo-Seocheon-Dongtan-Osan, which Rep. Kim Jin-pyo (Suwon Yeongdeungpo) pledged as an election promise.
● Dongtan's Rise Threatens Suwon's Position as Reality
Concerns that Suwon's position could be severely shaken as Hwaseong's Dongtan emerges as a core city in southern Gyeonggi <See Suwon Ilbo, September 1, pages 2-3> are becoming reality.
By 2015, the massive cities of Dongtan 1 and 2 New Cities, spanning 3,100 hectares with an influx population of 365,000, will take full shape. If the government's plan to develop Dongtan into a transportation hub and industrial center for southern Gyeonggi is realized as intended, Suwon's position will inevitably be shaken.
Looking at transportation alone, even with the Bundang Line and Shinbundang Line opening, it takes considerable time to reach Seoul from Suwon. Moreover, in terms of corporate recruitment, there is a strong possibility of concentration in Dongtan, where land prices are cheaper and transportation is more convenient. The government and province evaluate Dongtan's potential as substantial, considering Seoul accessibility, long-term development conditions, and economic effects. Therefore, it is analyzed that the city must establish traffic measures to draw the Dongtan living zone under Suwon's sphere of influence.
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