Transit Plan Unveiled for Commuters to Seoul
By Kim Se-jeong
Staff Reporter
The presidential transition committee announced Thursday a new transit plan with the aim of reducing chronic traffic jams in suburban Seoul and expressways and inducing more people to use public transportation. The plan, if implemented, would help commuters to Seoul from nearby satellite cities, save commuting time by up to 30 minutes.
According to the plan, a lane for high-occupancy vehicles will be created in designated zones of the Hannam-Pangyo interchanges of the Gyeongbu Expressway and the Yeoido-Jamsil interchanges on Olympic Expressway. Vehicles that carry fewer than nine passengers on the designated lane would have to pay a toll.
The committee also suggested expanding bus-only lanes on expressways and downtown Seoul.
By 2012, routes between Hanam and Cheonho, Chungra and Hwagok and Bundang and Naegok will have bus-only lanes. The route between Suwon and Banpo ― where traffic is notoriously heavy ― will also have bus-only lanes seven days a week. In Seoul, bus-only lanes will be expanded from 73.5 km to 127.5 km by 2012.
Commuters from Incheon to Seoul will have speedy access to the city within one hour. The new plan suggested creating intercity Express buses with transfers and few stops.
Residents of Ansan and Bundang will also benefit from express trains. The new Ansan and Bundang lines will offer the express service stopping at only a few stations. The Daegook and Sosa lines will also be included. The Gyeongui, Gyeongwon and Joongang lines will also adopt the new express train system.
To prevent delays at toll gates, an automatic pay system will be introduced, which will make it possible to charge vehicles without a stop.
The transition committee plans to expand the ``hot-lane'' after a trial period.
A more comprehensive information system will be made available for bus riders with information on the current location of a bus and estimated time of arrival. Metro cards that are only valid in Seoul will also be able to be used throughout Gyeonggi province. Bus riders can dial 1333 for traffic information anywhere.