Busan to add new village bus route for Eco Delta City

A bus is about to stop at a bus stop where three people are waiting for the bus to arrive.

(Photo courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)

Busan will introduce a new village bus route in Eco Delta City to address growing demand for public transportation as the new district continues to develop.

The city plans to select an operator through an open application process, with an official recruitment notice scheduled for September 30.

The new route will operate with four buses, including one reserve vehicle, connecting Eco Delta City with Gangseo-gu Office. The route is designed to improve connections with Busan Metro Line 3 and the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail, making transfers more convenient for residents.

Demand for additional public transportation has increased rapidly in the area. More than 100 requests related to improving Eco Delta City’s transportation services were submitted to the city’s transition committee during June.

The expansion will mark the first increase in the number of village buses operating under Gangseo-gu’s integrated management system since it was introduced in 2010. The system currently limits the district’s village bus fleet to 64 vehicles, with the city and district providing financial support to operators serving areas with limited public transportation.

Rather than taking buses away from existing routes, Busan plans to use vehicles associated with routes that have been inactive for extended periods because of redevelopment or changing transportation conditions.

The selected operator will receive support for operating losses and run the Eco Delta City route on a temporary basis in response to the area’s changing transportation needs.

Fleet Chinhae