Fares to increase by KRW 150 for general buses, KRW 250 for seated buses, and KRW 400 for direct seated buses

◇ Intra-city bus fares for Gyeonggi Province are set to rise from KRW 1100 to KRW 1250 for general buses, from KRW 1800 to KRW 2050 for seated buses, and KRW 2000 to KRW 2400 for direct seated buses (for general adults, card payment) starting with the first bus to run on June 27. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yoo Je-hoon

Intra-city bus fares for Gyeonggi Province are set to rise from KRW 1100 to KRW 1250 for general buses, from KRW 1800 to KRW 2050 for seated buses, and KRW 2000 to KRW 2400 for direct seated buses (for general adults, card payment) starting with the first bus to run on June 27.

The fare hike was confirmed as the Governor of Gyeonggi Province accepted and enacted the 2015 intra-city bus fare restructuring plan that was approved by vote of the Consumer Policy Deliberative Committee on May 29. Bus fares will rise for the first time since the last increase in November of 2011. However, the provincial government decided against a distance scale-rate system to reduce the burden on households in the province. 

The Gyeonggi Provincial Government commissioned a study spanning three months to determine an appropriate increase in bus fares and produce a restructuring plan. The plan was then proposed to the Bus Policy Committee of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly, and the Consumer Policy Deliberative Committee. 

With bus fares set to increase on June 27, the provincial government will offer early bird discounts of KRW 400, essentially keeping the fare at existing levels, for passengers taking direct seated buses from the first bus to run in the morning until 6:30am.

The provincial government expects this early bird discount program to reduce the burden on passengers taking buses early in the morning and to disperse bus passengers across different commute windows so as to facilitate the implementation of the seated system for inter-city buses. 

Gyeonggi Province plans to pursue improvements in the bus system for Gyeonggi residents during the latter half of 2015. These improvements include: the introduction of double-decker buses; the improvement of transfer station facilities (20 stations); the expansion of late-night bus operations (54 locations → 56 locations); the addition of buses customized for excluded areas; and the continued addition of low-floor buses (111 vehicles in 2015).

Gyeonggi Province Bus Policy Division Director Hong Gwi-seon said, “This year’s increase in bus fares will be a chance to alleviate financial stress on bus operators due to deficits incurred in transport operations, and to improve labor conditions for bus drivers.” Hong also stated, “We will do our utmost to provide friendlier, more convenient, and safer public transportation services.”

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Lee Joon-gyoon eyekle@hanmail.net 

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201506091003487055C048&s_code=C048