The city announced “Vision 2030 for Transportation in Seoul,” a 20-year vision for public transportation and infrastructure including roads, sidewalks, and railroad networks. In the past, the city policies emphasized vehicles, car ownership, and economic growth. Under the new vision, however, the city hopes to address the current issues regarding the transportation system by focusing on pedestrians, the spirit of sharing, and environmental protection.
By keeping all the 11 promises layed out in the vision, the city plans to achieve ‘Triple 30’ goals by 2030: First, reduce car traffic by 30%. Second, shorten the average commuting time by 30%. And Third, expand the use of different modes of green transportation by 30%.
By 2030, the government expects the share of green modes including walking, biking, and the use of public transportation to increase from the current 70% to 80% and the annual greenhouse-gas emissions per capita to decrease from the current 1.2 tons to 0.8 tons.

Pedestrian-first system
The city will expand pedestrian-only zones by doubling the current 10.13 million ㎡ of sidewalks and by closing roads (i.e. Sejong-ro) on certain days. At the same time, public transportation-only zones will be extended and promenades connecting tourist attractions, cultural areas, and shopping districts will be created.

Bicycle-centered environment
The city will increase bicycle-sharing services and link bicycle paths with neighborhoods so that citizens can easily borrow bicycles and go anywhere they want. As a result, bicycles will become a new mode of public transportation. Bicycle-sharing services at Yeouido will be extended to key points in the city and be linked with HanGang and other districts’ bicycle-sharing services.

Speed limit of 30km/h in all neighborhoods
Given that 70% of pedestrian-car accidents occur on roads less than 13m in width, the government will comprehensively improve traffic environment in all neighborhoods. Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE) will be developed, implemented, and managed thoroughly, and ‘Garage Certificate System’ will be introduced to decrease pedestrian-car accidents in residential areas.

Better transportation services for senior citizens and those in wheelchairs
The city will replace all the high-floor buses with low-platform buses (currently 2022 buses or 27%), making it much easier for people with disabilities to use the public bus system. Also, the city seeks to increase their mobility, by offering more Call Taxi services.

Enhance the public transportation system through railroad networks
The city plans to add railway express services where there is a great demand for railroad services. In addition, the government will build railway networks among cities and metro-rail networks among metro-cities, and introduce light rail transit services in remote areas.

Convenient and rapid transportation services
The government will complete the networks of bus-only lanes, provide diverse services to meet passengers’ specific needs, design bus lanes in a way that helps people have easy access to railway stations, expand and make revisions to lanes for ‘Late-night bus,’ and customize taxi services to help citizens go home safely.

Encourage transportation-sharing services
For a long time, roads were dominated by vehicles. Now, the city government seeks to introduce a new concept, ‘Complete Street,’ where passers-by, bicyclers, and drivers alike can feel safe. Also, car pool service providers will be increased from 292 in 2013 to 1200 in 2030. Therefore, car pool services will be more widely used.
The government will work hard to impose environmentally friendly measures. As a result, by 2030, the share of private vehicles will have gone down from the current 18.4% to 10% and arterial highway congestion will have decreased from the current 19% to 10%. Also, all the polluting vehicles in the public transportation system will have been replaced by zero-polluting vehicles (currently accounting for only 0.2% of the system).

Discourage excessive use of private cars
The city will impose mileage-based congestion charges and permit the construction of buildings without parking lots.
Furthermore, the government will encourage citizens to refrain from using private cars as much as possible. In light of this, the flexible working hours system including tele-work and ‘smart work’ will be promoted to relieve rush-hour traffic. At the same time, the frequent use of personal vehicles for business travel will be discouraged.

Promote the use of eco-friendly transport modes and infrastructure
Up until now, road transport has consumed much energy. However, from now on, it will even produce energy, as well purify environmental pollutants.
Zero-polluting and eco-friendly vehicles will gradually be substituted for nearly all the buses, taxis, and even personal cars which pollute the air.

Roads without barriers
The government will build ‘Solar ways’ through which energy is produced using public transportation infrastructure including bus stops, street lights, soundproof walls, and pavements. Different types of pavement blocks will be used to absorb pollutants and rainwater. Also, ‘Detection and Warning system’ will be upgraded as well.

Citizen-oriented transportation culture, a step toward becoming an advanced city
In carrying out transportation projects and relevant policies, the city will put strenuous effort to communicate with the public and build a consensus. This will help minimize conflicts that often happen at initial stages of progress. Monitoring and feedback systems will enable the government to add measures to existing policies.