Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, announced on the 16th a pledge to complete a 674 km 'circular expressway network' in the metropolitan area and to expand the metropolitan express train service (GTX) model into a 'national express train network.'
Candidate Kim unveiled the pledge of 'a country interconnected by GTX (metropolitan express train service)' in front of the Dongtan Station in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.
Dongtan Station is significant as it was the first line (Suseo-Dongtan) of the GTX line promoted during his tenure as the governor of Gyeonggi Province.
Shin Dong-uk, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party's central election campaign committee, explained, 'The biggest challenge for residents of the metropolitan area is transportation issues,' noting that 'Dongtan Station, which is where the draft for rapid access to Seoul via GTX was created, is the right place to announce this pledge.'
Candidate Kim outlined his plan to first implement the 'metropolitan megacity six-axis circular expressway network,' which includes burying and consolidating parts of the internal circular road of Seoul, the Gangbyeonbuk-ro, and the Gangnam Circular Road, as well as constructing new segments of the metropolitan No. 1 circular expressway and the metropolitan No. 2 circular expressway.
It entails adding and complementing a 206 km section to the existing 468 km route. The total project cost is estimated to be 13.79 trillion won.
Candidate Kim pointed out, 'The sharp increase in the population of the metropolitan area and the construction of new towns in phases 1, 2, and 3 have exacerbated traffic congestion, causing our citizens distress. Some sections pass through elevated roads near urban areas, resulting in serious environmental damage due to noise and visual contamination.'
He emphasized, 'Creating a circular expressway is vital for traffic distribution,' adding, 'If we establish other routes for distribution, even those areas that have been congested will be cleared, and newly developed areas will also be accessible, resulting in an overall unobstructed pathway.'
He plans to open and commence construction on the sections included in the existing GTX line extension plan within his term and will also push for early completion while considering the addition of a GTX G line.
GTX A is set to extend from Dongtan to Pyeongtaek, GTX B from Masan to Gapyeong and Chuncheon, and GTX C from Deokjeong to Dongducheon, and from Suwon to Hwaseong, Osan, Pyeongtaek, and Asan.
The opening of routes linking Dongtan, Anseong, and Cheongju Airport GTX, as well as the Wirye-Gwacheon line and the Shin Ansan line from Song-san to Yeouido, will be expedited.
He also promised to expand the GTX to four regions nationwide, including the Chungcheong, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, Busan-Ulsan-Yeongnam, and Honam areas, to address transportation blind spots in local areas.
Candidate Kim promised infrastructure investments such as integrating the transportation card policies that were fragmented among local governments in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon into a single card applicable nationwide, the introduction of a monthly 60,000 won 'national integrated public transportation card (K-WonPass),' a 'free bus ride system' for seniors over 65, and the expansion and optimization of call taxi services for individuals with severe disabilities.