Installing free Wi-Fi, LED lighting, cooling vents, heated chairs
This year, bus stops across Incheon are going to get a makeover. 674 bus stops will be updated or replaced with smart and comfortable bus stops featuring not only free Wi-Fi connection, but also LED lighting, cooling vents, and heated chairs.
Incheon is looking to spend KRW 22 billion on a major overhaul and expansion of the platforms and public Wi-Fi equipment, air-conditioning, and heating facilities at bus stops to make sure its citizens can wait for buses in a more pleasant environment.
▲ 674 bus stops in Incheon will transform into pleasant and smart bus stops with free Wi-Fi and air conditioning facilities, giving Incheon’s citizens a chance to wait for buses in greater comfort. (Photo of a standard bus platform design (Incheon-si) - regular-type)
Throughout the year, Incheon will update and upgrade 674 bus stations on 205 bus routes that were revised on December 31, 2020. The Metropolitan City Government plans to install 500 platforms, whereas each Gun/Gu Office and IFEZ will install 124 and 50 new stations, respectively.
Public transport is expected to become much more convenient for the public with more than five times the usual number of bus stations built every year (approximately 120 stations on a normal year). This initiative will bring the total number of bus stations in Incheon from 3,843 in 2020 to 4,517 in 2021.
In addition to 300 bus information terminals(BIT), 950 public Wi-Fis models will also be installed at platforms, giving the public better Wi-Fi coverage at bus stops.
▲Standard bus platform design (Incheon-si) - closed-type (left) and open-type (right)
▲ Gyeyang-gu bus platform design (left), Songdo Dalbit Festival Park Station bus platform design (right)
As for the BITs, Incheon is looking to install 200 new terminals, and replace 100 old terminals. Free public Wi-Fi units will be additionally installed at 950 stops, bringing the total to 3,500 bus stops. Currently, all city buses servicing routes across Incheon are equipped with public Wi-Fi.
Cooling and heating equipment at bus stops are also expected to get a massive update. In anticipation of the heat waves in summer, and to avoid the cold in winter, 45 bus stops will get new air vents, and 67 bus stops will get new heated chairs, making the public transport experience more convenient than ever. In addition, some of the stops will be built as fixed screen platforms, so passengers can wait for buses inside the bus stop.
Moreover, LED light fixtures are expected at 45 platforms where the facilities are old or where the supply of electricity is restricted due to insufficient use, and 350 old bus signs will be replaced with signs featuring a standard design to improve the aesthetic consistency of the city and create a more pleasant environment.
Finally, a guiding line will be painted on the ground leading up to 28 bus stops to promote a safer public transportation culture.
▲ Incheon City Hall Rear Entrance bus stop design
The company to install the 500 platforms, with a budget of KRW 8.5 billion, was selected on March 15. Construction will begin soon and end by September. As for the BITs, Incheon will spend KRW 3.6 billion to install all devices between May and December. Meanwhile, the public Wi-Fi upgrade will get under way for five months between August and December this year.
