Gimpo Mayor Lee Ki-hyung explains the city's requests at a meeting with the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly's Construction and Transportation Committee on Wednesday. [Gimpo City]
Gimpo Mayor Lee Ki-hyung explains the city's requests at a meeting with the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly's Construction and Transportation Committee on Wednesday. [Gimpo City]

Gimpo City has asked Gyeonggi Province for broad support — including provincial budget allocations for next year — to address urgent transportation and construction issues in the area.

At a meeting with the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly's Construction and Transportation Committee on Wednesday, the city called for the addition of five train sets (10 cars) to the severely congested Gimpo Gold Line and the expansion of related facilities, a project with a total cost of 51 billion won ($38.5 million). It also requested 7.14 billion won in provincial funding to reduce the burden on the city's own budget.

The city also raised a series of public transit reform requests: converting 12 city bus routes (135 buses) to a public management system next year, securing fiscal and institutional support to fully waive Ilsan Bridge tolls during peak commuting hours, obtaining 210 million won in provincial funding for smart bus stop installations, and maintaining the provincial subsidy rate of 70 percent for programs improving working conditions for corporate taxi drivers.

The city further urged the province to secure funding for the timely construction of Provincial Road No. 355, which connects to the Seoam interchange on the Gyeyang-Ganghwa Expressway.

Gimpo also called for provincial budget support for two flood-prevention projects: a river environment improvement project along Najin Stream and a local river maintenance project along Bongseong Stream.

In addition, the city requested 3.25 billion won in provincial funding to repair and renovate the Bogugot district's provincially managed seawall, and asked that the provincial cost-sharing rate of 50 percent be maintained for improvement projects in school zones and senior protection zones.

"Transportation and safety infrastructure are directly tied to the quality of life for our residents, so timely and adequate investment is essential," Gimpo Mayor Lee Ki-hyung said. "We will maintain close cooperation with the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly to ensure that key projects — including easing congestion on the Gimpo Gold Line and preventing disasters — are carried through without delay."


gilbert@heraldcorp.com