Pyeongtaek City Launches New Circular Bus Routes 888A and 888B in Southern Area

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Seo Dong-young] Pyeongtaek City announced that it will launch new circular bus routes (route numbers 888A and 888B) starting September 21st to strengthen connectivity between existing routes serving the southern region of Pyeongtaek and new apartment complexes.

Pyeongtaek City explained that as large-scale residential complexes continue to move into the southern region, public transportation service has been inadequate in comparison. The city decided to launch circular buses to improve public transit convenience.

The buses on these routes operate in both directions on the same section. Route 888A operates in a clockwise direction, while route 888B operates counterclockwise. Based on weekday operations, each route runs 84 times daily with intervals of 10 to 15 minutes between buses.

Additionally, as passengers boarding these routes can now travel to areas with concentrated bus service such as Pyeongtaek Station, transfer conditions are expected to improve.

The city explained that these routes do not circulate on every trip; instead, circulation and terminal operations alternate. Taking route 888A as an example, on the first cycle, it operates continuously around Pyeongtaek Station, while on the second cycle, it terminates at Pyeongtaek Terminal.

This is an unavoidable situation because drivers' working hours and rest periods are set according to the Labor Standards Act. Citizens using these buses must board after checking destination signs on the front of the bus, such as "City Circulation" or "To Terminal."

Pyeongtaek Mayor Jung Jang-seon said, "The southern region has experienced inconvenience due to difficulty using public transportation despite the influx of residents into large apartment complexes. The launch of this circular bus is expected to provide quick and convenient public transportation service," and added, "Going forward, we will review ridership demand and make efforts to provide improved transportation convenience, such as gradually expanding bus routes."

Meanwhile, over the past year, the city has continuously consulted with bus operators regarding the launch of the southern region circular bus, despite the difficult circumstances facing the transportation industry as passenger numbers plummeted due to COVID-19.