Seoul adjusts 33 intercity bus routes to reduce commute times

A traffic controller guides intercity buses stopping at the busy bus stop in Myeong-dong, downtown Seoul, located across from Lotte Young Plaza, on Jan. 10. [MOON HEE-CHUL]

Commuters traveling between Seoul and neighboring cities may experience less traffic congestion during rush hours with the adjustment of 33 bus routes through major areas like Gangnam and Myeong-dong.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Thursday that it has amended intercity bus routes to alleviate heavy traffic, working with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Gyeonggi provincial government and the Incheon city government.

Starting June 29, two intercity buses passing Myeong-dong in Jung District, central Seoul — Nos. 9003 and 9300 — will have their terminus stops moved from Namsan Tunnel No.1 to Sowol-ro near Namsan, a location considered less congested.

From May 16, 11 buses, including Nos. 4108, M4108, M4130, M4137 and 4101, will pass through a new stop built by the roadside at Myeongdong Cathedral. Bus stops near the Myeong-dong entrance and the National Tax Service (NTS)’s Namdaemun District Office have always been extremely congested, as some 30 buses traveling from southern Gyeonggi to Seoul Station pass through the area.

The city government expects the amendment will help alleviate congestion by reducing the number of buses passing the Myeong-dong entrance stop from 71 to 61 and buses passing the Namdaemun branch of the NTS from 143 to 106.

The adjustment is expected to reduce the commute time by around 8 minutes for those taking buses passing through the overcrowded Myeong-dong stops.

Around 30 percent of intercity buses that travel to Seoul pass through the Gangnam Station area, taking commuters up to an hour to travel the usual 20-minute distance from Sinsa to Yangjae, the city government said.

Five bus routes traveling near Gangnamdae-ro in southern Seoul — Nos. 1560, 5001, 5001-1, 5002B and 5003 — will travel in reverse in the afternoon starting June 29. These buses that enter the Banpo Interchange from the Gyeongbu Highway to the Yangjae Interchange will travel in the opposite direction only in the afternoon.

Around 27 percent fewer buses are expected to pass the congested Gangnam bus stop, reducing traveling time by 12 minutes.

“We came up with the best amendment to alleviate traffic congestion for intercity buses,” Yoon Jong-jang, director of the city’s transportation bureau, said, adding that the city government will work with other agencies to check on the facilities and bus companies to implement the adjustment.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]