Bus-Only Lanes to Double by 2030... "Bus Travel Speeds to Rise by 20%"

The government plans to double the length of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) exclusive lanes by 2030, increasing bus travel speeds by 20%.

The Metropolitan Transport Commission (MTC) of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced today (the 29th) that it has finalized and issued the 2nd BRT Master Plan (2026–2030), which outlines mid-to-long-term policy directions and implementation tasks for the next five years.

The BRT Master Plan is a statutory plan established every five years to facilitate the efficient construction of BRT systems.

This second plan was formulated under the vision of "Connecting people's daily lives closer and more conveniently through BRT."

The MTC plans to expand nationwide BRT exclusive lanes from the current 351 km to 707 km by 2030, while raising average bus travel speeds from 21 km/h to 25 km/h.

The proportion of eco-friendly hydrogen and electric buses will be expanded from 26% to 50%, and autonomous BRT routes will be increased from 6 to 18.

By 2030, the MTC plans to invest a total project cost of 1.6 trillion won (including 530 billion won in national funds) to establish 38 BRT routes nationwide.

In particular, investments in regional metropolitan areas will be increased to alleviate transportation disparities between regions.

Based on national funding allocations, regional areas will receive 407.6 billion won (77%), and the metropolitan area will receive 120.5 billion won (23%).

In addition, the MTC plans to organically connect BRT with major transportation hubs such as airports, railway stations, and bus terminals to build an integrated, transfer-centered transportation system.

Existing urban BRTs will be linked with neighboring cities to enhance metropolitan travel convenience.

Mobility rights for disadvantaged groups will also be strengthened through the standardization of barrier-free stations, minimizing the gap between platforms and vehicles, expanding low-floor buses, and advancing AI-based operation and control systems.

"The 2nd BRT Master Plan goes beyond a simple expansion of bus infrastructure; it serves as a core axis of the metropolitan transportation network connecting the five megaregions and three special self-governing provinces," said Transport Committee Chairman Kim Yong-seok. "By advancing the connectivity between metropolitan areas and transfer systems at major hubs, we will create an environment where the public can travel faster and more conveniently."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.