'트램 1호선' 둘러싸고 벌써부터 충돌?

[Anchor] It appears that the Ulsan Mayor-elect, who is about to take office, and the local National Assembly member are already clashing over the Ulsan urban railway project. Ulsan Mayor-elect Kim Sang-wook has effectively signaled a review of the Tram Line 1 project, stating that the pace needs to be adjusted. In contrast, Assemblyman Kim Tae-gyu, who was elected in the recent by-election, maintains that the project must proceed as scheduled. Reporter Gu Hyeon-hee reports. [Reporter] Ulsan Mayor-elect Kim Sang-wook has put the brakes on the urban railway project, along with revising the reorganized city bus routes. He argues that if Tram Line 1 proceeds as currently planned, a traffic crisis is inevitable. He also cited concerns regarding increased project costs and the possibility of operating at a deficit as reasons. (Interview) Kim Sang-wook, Mayor-elect of Ulsan "The project cost will be much higher than 380 billion won. If things go wrong, it could result in an annual deficit of nearly 100 billion won. Furthermore, connection points have not been properly secured. Therefore, we must re-examine from scratch whether this tram is truly necessary for our Nam-gu, Ulsan, right now." Instead, his position is that Line 2, which urgently needs to meet commuting demand in line with the characteristics of an industrial city, should be pushed forward first. However, the National Assembly member for the district, elected in the recent by-election, holds a different view. Representative Kim Tae-gyu of the People Power Party emphasized that the project should not be halted without realistic alternatives and that the Tram Line 1 project must be pursued without interruption. (Interview) National Assembly Member Kim Tae-gyu (People Power Party) "We have to say that it is not desirable. What I have been talking about all along is punctuality. There is no transportation in Ulsan yet that can arrive on time. Isn't the tram the most realistic alternative to guarantee that? There is no subway in Ulsan, is there? Won't digging an underground tunnel cause chaos?" Tram Line 1 is a project where hydrogen electric trams will run along a 10.85km section from Taehwagang Station to Sinbok Intersection, passing through downtown Ulsan, including Samsan-ro and Munsu-ro. The area where Assembly Member-elect Kim expressed concern about traffic chaos is the Munsu-ro area, which is densely populated with apartment complexes and private academies. However, this region was won by the People Power Party in the recent by-election, and it is also the place that supported the incumbent Ulsan Mayor, Kim Du-gyeom, in the Ulsan mayoral election. Representative-elect Kim cannot help but monitor public opinion in his constituency, but there are many hurdles to overcome. Four out of the six National Assembly members representing the Ulsan region belong to the People Power Party, and the Ulsan City Council has been reorganized into a minority ruling party and majority opposition for the first time in history since its inception. For this reason, analysts suggest that unlike the issue of restoring bus routes, which enjoys relatively strong public consensus, it will not be easy to put the brakes on the Tram Line 1 project, which has already begun construction. This is Gu Hyeon-hee from JCN News. #Ulsan #News