KOTI - Korea Transport institute

1. Introduction

The government recently announced its plan to realize a super megacity with a speed-oriented innovation strategy at the Public Forum on Livelihood Issues related to Transportation Policy (Jan. 25, 2024). It proposed opening the era of the GTX nationwide and establishing a megacity system with a 30-minute commuting zone in the metropolitan area and a one-hour living zone in the local area. In particular, the government planned to promote the x-TX project, which enables travel at 180 km/h in the local areas. The ultimate goal was to introduce GTX lines across the nation to overcome the physical distance between cities and form an extended economic living zone. Transportation was now evolving beyond merely providing mobility and accessibility to users; it was increasingly recognized as a means of realizing new forms of social space. In this context, the rapid transit railway has been presented as a strategy to improve connectivity and accessibility between cities for the realization of the super megacity region.

When the rapid transit project in a regional metropolitan area was promoted, there were many limitations such as feasibility. In particular, business feasibility and overall viability were major concerns. Unlike the capital region, local areas have relatively small populations and economic scales. From the perspective of private investors, this implies low profitability for railway projects in these regions. Moreover, future demand for railway services was projected to be limited compared to the capital region, further weakening the overall feasibility of the project. Therefore, it was necessary to examine the limitations and challenges associated with rapid transit railway projects in local areas and to prepare strategies for improvement.

The study proposed implementation strategies for rapid transit railway projects centered on local areas in line with the central government's policy direction. The objective of the study was to categorize implementation strategies into the following three areas, considering the procedural characteristics of railway project development. First, identify strategic a rapid transit railway network by analyzing travel behavior in the super megacity region with the aim to maximize rail demand. Second, suggest measures to improve the feasibility of railway projects by improving demand forecasts and benefit assessments. Third, propose strategies to improve business feasibility from construction and operation perspectives. The study analyzed the problems surrounding rapid transit railway projects in the super megacity region and suggests implementation strategies based on these three objectives.

In this study, the term “super megacity region” was used in accordance with the definition provided in the Special Act on Decentralization and Balanced Regional Development. A super megacity region refers to an area jointly designated by two or more local governments or by a special local administrative entity to promote cooperative projects necessary for regional economic and living zone development. The spatial scope of the super megacity region is defined as four regions—Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam, Chungcheong, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, and Gwangju-Jeonnam—based on past and present government strategies for balanced national development. The substantive scope of the study was to explore strategies for promoting rapid transit railway projects in these four regional super megacity regions while considering the current status of railway projects in each step.

[ Contents ]

1. Introduction

2.Review of Policies and Trends for Super Megacity Region Development

2-A. Current Status of Regional Imbalance

2-B. Review of Policies for Promoting the Super Megacity Region

2-C. Survey of Railway Projects in the Super Megacity Region

3.Proposal of Rapid Transit Railway Network in Super Megacity Regions

3-A. Analysis of Travel Behavior in Super Megacity Region

3-B. Analysis of Major Hubs in the Super Megacity Region

3-C. Establishing a One-Hour Living Zone in the Super Megacity Region

4. Strategies to Improve the Feasibility of Railway Projects in Super Megacity Regions

4-A. Improvement of Spatial Structure in the Super Megacity Region

4-B. Advancement of Public Transportation Travel Time in the Super Megacity Region

5. Strategies to Improve the Business Feasibility of Railway Projects in Super Megacity Regions

5-A. Legal and Institutional Reforms for Balanced Regional Development in Railway Projects

5-B. Revenue Model for Railway Projects Considering Carbon Neutrality

6. Conclusion