Tongzhou transport links on track

Beijing will strengthen transport links between the city center and eastern Tongzhou district, cutting the commute period by one-third to less than half an hour, authorities said on Thursday.

Three public transportation lines that link the urban area to the subcenter in Tongzhou district are under construction, according to the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission.

"It's a good way to speed up the public transport system's construction for the city subcenter," said Lai Xianyu, director of the commission's foundation department.

A Bus Rapid Transit route running from Guangqu Road to the center of Tongzhou district is expected to be in operation by the end of 2018, while an east extension to subway Line 7 and a south extension to the Batong Line are expected to be completed in 2019.

At the same time, the road network connecting the city center to the subcenter will be extended to Miyun and Huairou districts, and then to Daxing and Fangshan districts.

In February, President Xi Jinping said the construction of Beijing's subcenter should be carried out to a high standard and that urban planners should think deeply about the city's appearance and find ways to strengthen its function as a capital city.

"The infrastructure of Tongzhou subcenter will be completed to a high standard," said Cui Xiaohao, deputy director of the commission.

According to the plan, the number of transport lines between the subcenter and new cities will be increased. The commutes between other cities will also be enhanced.

By the end of 2017, the Beijing City Railway Subcenter Line was open to traffic with four stations along the line. It takes about 48 minutes to reach Tongzhou Station from Beijing West Railway Station.

The new lines will improve Tongzhou's transportation network, Cui said.

According to the Beijing Overall Urban Development Plan issued in September, the development of Tongzhou will ease overcrowding and congestion in the city center, build Beijing into a world-class city and improve living standards.

The Beijing municipal government also plans to gradually relocate some of its functions to Tongzhou.