◈ Econubi buses opened on October 30th, with six electric low-floor buses deployed on two routes (Gangseo-gu 8-1 and 15-1). Wait times for boarding were reduced by three minutes for those heading to Hadan and 13 minutes for those heading to Myeongji International New Town.
◈ Operates as a 'cashless bus (transportation card only)', passengers without a transportation card can pay their fares by depositing them into their bank account.
◈ Expected to attract attention as the nation's first application case of the "New City, etc. Public Transportation Support Project"
□ Busan City (Mayor Park Hyung-jun) announced that it will open the “econubi bus” that runs between Eco Delta City and Myeongji International New Town, and Eco Delta City and Hadan Station on October 30th.
○ After six months of preparation, the city, Gangseo-gu, and Korea Water Resources Corporation established the basic plan for this project and signed a business agreement in May, and the bus service will begin today.
The bus name, "econubi," was chosen through a public contest, signifying "the feet of citizens navigating Eco Delta City." The vehicle design differentiates it from existing village buses by reflecting Eco Delta City's image as an eco-friendly waterfront city.
□ Econubi buses will be operated with six medium-sized electric low-floor buses on two routes (Gangseo-gu 8-1, Gangseo-gu 15-1) with a limited license for five years (2025-2029).
○ ▲'Gangseo-gu8-1 ' The route runs from Eco Delta City to Myeongji Saedongne and the National Assembly Library. ▲'Gangseo-gu 15-1 ' The route runs from Eco Delta City to Gangseo Police Station to Hadan. The first train departs at 6:20 AM and 6:10 AM, respectively, with intervals of 35-40 and 35 minutes, respectively.
○ With the addition of two routes, the waiting time for passengers to board existing city buses and village buses is expected to be reduced by an average of 3 minutes (from 13 minutes to 10 minutes) in the Hadan direction and by an average of 13 minutes (from 30 minutes to 17 minutes) in the Myeongji International New Town direction.
□ The fare is the same as that of the Gangseo-gu village bus (transportation card: 1,480 won for adults, 750 won for teenagers, free for children), and the free public transportation transfer benefit is also the same.
However, Econubi buses operate as "cashless buses (transportation card only)" and allow passengers without a transportation card to pay their fares via bank transfer, ensuring a smooth experience. This measure is intended to provide a safe and convenient transportation service, as the number of passengers using cash significantly decreases.
□ Meanwhile, the Econubi bus is the first example of a nationwide “New City, etc. Public Transportation Support Project” in accordance with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport’s “New City, etc. Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Promotion Plan.”
○ The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport announced the “Plan to Improve Metropolitan Transportation in New Cities, etc.” in October 2022, and laid the groundwork for the “New Cities, etc. Public Transportation Support Project,” which supports poor public transportation in the early stages of new cities, etc., through consultations between local governments and project implementers in mid- to long-term management districts (22 designated nationwide, including Eco Delta City).
○ The Econubi Bus is the first case in the country where the “New Town Public Transportation Support Project” has been applied on-site since the announcement by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, and it is significant in that it sets the standard for public transportation support projects in mid- to long-term management districts to be promoted in the future.
□ Hwang Hyeon-cheol, Director of the Busan Transportation Innovation Bureau, said, “The Econubi bus is not just a new route, but an important achievement that has put into practice Busan’s future strategies of smart city, eco-friendly transportation, and 15-minute city,” and added, “We will continue to expand innovative transportation services that citizens can experience.”
Source: Busan Metropolitan City