Osan City Achieves Success in Expanding Metropolitan and Long-Distance Bus Routes to Seoul and Gyeonggi Province

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Park Chan-hyuk] Osan City announced on the 30th that it has achieved significant results by focusing all efforts on securing metropolitan and long-distance bus routes to Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, one of the key projects of the 8th civilian-elected administration, with multiple routes now in operation.

Mayor Lee Gwon-jae, since taking office, has directly visited the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Area Suburban Transportation Committee and KD Transport Group over the past three years, working with municipal officials to expand bus routes and secure multiple new lines. Through these efforts, accessibility to major hubs in the Seoul metropolitan area, including downtown Seoul and Gimpo International Airport, has been significantly enhanced.

According to the city, bus routes secured during the 8th administration include: △Seoul Station metropolitan bus route 5104 △Seongnam Yatap and Pangyo metropolitan buses routes 8301 and 8302 △Gimpo International Airport limousine bus route 8848 △Downtown and Segyo 1·2 districts to Jamsil and East Seoul Terminal intercity buses routes 8135 and 8145 △Segyo 1·2 districts to Seongnam Yatap intercity bus (scheduled for launch in December).

Route 5104 to Seoul Station is a long-standing wish of Osan residents, departing from Segyo 1·2 districts, passing through Sema Station and Buk-Osan IC, and traveling directly to Seoul Station. Service began in July. This route is distinctive in breaking away from the existing route structure focused mainly on Gangnam and Sadang, now connecting to all corners of Seoul.

In April of last year, routes 8301 and 8302 to Seongnam's Pangyo and Yatap areas began operation through route division and establishment of new routes. Route 8301 was increased from 4 to 8 trips daily as of last July, significantly improving residents' transportation convenience.

Routes 8135 and 8145 intercity buses, departing from downtown and Segyo 2 district and traveling to Jamsil and East Seoul Terminal via Segyo 1 district, held opening ceremonies in September and this month respectively and are currently in operation. An intercity bus departing from Segyo 2 district and traveling to Yatap via Segyo 1 district is scheduled to open in December.

The Osan-Gimpo International Airport airport limousine bus service, which had been suspended after the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed operations in December of last year and is currently in service. Additionally, an additional stop in Gohyeon-dong on route 5300 metropolitan bus has improved transportation accessibility in the southern residential area.

Mayor Lee Gwon-jae stated, "With the expansion of numerous buses from Osan to Seoul and major hub cities in Gyeonggi Province, residents' mobility convenience will be further enhanced," and added, "Going forward, we will do our best to expand metropolitan transportation networks that residents can directly experience."