Autonomous Shuttles to Launch in Hwaseong City Next Year

Hwaseong City is set to introduce a future-oriented transportation system by launching a pilot service of four autonomous shuttle buses in the Dongtan 1 and 2 new towns. This initiative, scheduled to begin in January of the following year, aims to improve citizen mobility and accelerate the development of an AI-based smart mobility city.

The pilot service will operate within key residential areas and transportation hubs in Dongtan 1 and 2, including areas around Hallym University Hospital and Central Park in Dongtan 1, and Dongtan Station, Techno Valley, and Lake Park in Dongtan 2. The routes are designed to reflect varying traffic demands throughout the day, with daytime operations covering 8.8 km in Dongtan 1 and 11.3 km in Dongtan 2, while nighttime routes will cover 8.8 km and 5.4 km respectively.

To ensure safe and stable operation, Hwaseong City will be preparing the necessary safety infrastructure in the latter half of this year. This includes installing autonomous vehicle road markings and dedicated signs, as well as establishing precise road maps. The city plans to verify the safety and applicability of autonomous driving technology for public transportation through this pilot service and will explore options for service expansion.

Hwaseong Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, "Autonomous driving is no longer a distant future technology but a transportation innovation that has entered citizens' daily lives." He added, "Through the Dongtan new town autonomous shuttle, we will enable citizens to experience AI-based smart transportation services in their daily lives and do our best to build a future transportation system."