In an effort to designate 16.7 square kilometers of land in Seoul as a special green road promotion area, Seoul government officials submitted the blueprints for the project to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport earlier this week and are now awaiting approval. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Mar. 6 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul Metropolitan Government has revealed plans to reduce the number of cars on the road within the city and slash greenhouse gasses.
The new campaign will see vehicular traffic within the Four Great Gates including Dongdaemun and Namdaemun regulated based on environment-friendly principles, and the number of traffic lanes reduced to between four and six.
Public transport will be expanded including a new bus lane, according to the Seoul government on Monday.
In an effort to designate 16.7 square kilometers of land in Seoul as a special green road promotion area, Seoul government officials submitted the blueprints for the project to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport earlier this week and are now awaiting approval.
“Vehicular traffic within the area will be reduced 30 percent by 2030, and greenhouse gas emissions will also be reduced by 40 percent,” the Seoul government said.
Under the new measure, ‘green road spaces’ such as pedestrian streets, bicycle lanes, and public transport facilities will double in size.
The number of traffic lanes will be capped at four in the heart of the South Korean capital, while some of the six-lane roads often used as bypasses for events and protests will be left alone as they are.
With fewer vehicle lanes set to cause traffic congestion, local road authorities are bringing major changes to the city’s public transport system, introducing new bus lanes including one stretching from Namdaemun to Jongno 1-ga and installing bus information terminals at each and every bus stop within the designated area.
Bus stops within 30 meters of each other will be integrated to avoid confusion, while zebra crossings will be added to make the city more pedestrian-friendly.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has revealed plans to reduce the number of cars on the road within the city and slash greenhouse gasses. (Image: Yonhap)
The number of Seoul bike stations in the designated area is set to increase to 101 this year from 60 last year, while the speed limit for cars will be set between 30 and 50 kilometers per hour.
Plans are also under consideration for a lane dedicated to personal mobility such as hover boards within the green road promotion area, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Hyunsu Yim (hyunsu@koreabizwire.com)
