GIMPO — Traffic congestion on the commute for workers at the Gimpo Gold Valley industrial complex, one of the city's long-standing problems, is expected to ease through a new partnership with Incheon.
The city said on the 29th that starting in October it will fully overhaul the route of city bus No. 1002, which had run between Wanjeong Intersection and Gwanghwamun Station, so that it connects directly to the Gimpo Gold Valley industrial complex. The central change is an extension of the starting point, in line with the relocation of the bus depot, from Wanjeong Intersection in Incheon's Seo District to the entrance of the 2nd Marine Division in Daepo-ri, Yangchon-eup.
With the extension, stops will be added at Ejen Techno Zone, Hwanggeum Industrial Complex Intersection No. 3, Geomdan Oryu Station and Wanggil Station. The change creates a direct link allowing passengers transferring from Incheon Subway Line 1 (Ara Station) and Line 2 (Wanjeong, Wanggil and Geomdan Oryu stations) to reach the Gimpo Gold Valley industrial complex on a single bus, which the city expects to sharply improve commuting for workers at the complex.
The Seoul segment, from the National Assembly to Exit 7 of Gwanghwamun Station, will be shortened so that buses turn back at Yeomchang Dong-A 3rd Apartment. Gimpo residents accounted for just 1.7% of ridership on that stretch, where chronic congestion had disrupted service intervals. By cutting the inefficient segment, the city aims to improve schedule reliability and maximize efficiency for its core riders.
"The top priority for Gimpo's transportation policy in my current term is convenience that residents feel directly," Mayor Lee Ki-hyung said. "Starting with this No. 1002 route overhaul, we will continue to adjust the public transit network and fundamentally resolve the inconveniences residents face in using buses."
