Politics
Old City Bkk Urban Mobility Plan Phases New Bus Routes for Residents by Mid-2027
Old City Bkk residents in central and riverside wards will see the first new bus routes added to the municipal network from January 2027 under the mayor's 2026 urban mobility update.
How we reported this
The Old City Bkk Urban Mobility Plan, released by the mayor's office on 3 July 2026, sets out a three-phase schedule for new bus corridors that directly affects daily commuters in the Rattanakosin and Banglamphu districts. Phase one begins with route extensions on existing lines serving the Grand Palace and riverside markets, with full service scheduled for January 2027. The plan states that 12 additional buses will enter operation in the first quarter of that year.
Why the timeline matters for local services
City budget papers for fiscal year 2027 allocate 450 million baht to the initial phase, drawn from the municipal transport reserve established under the 2024 Local Government Act. This funding covers route planning, vehicle procurement and driver training, with the first procurement contracts due for signing by September 2026. Policy analysts note that the phased approach follows the requirement in the act to complete environmental impact assessments before any new stops are installed.
Residents who rely on buses for travel to the Old City Bkk District Office or the nearby wholesale markets will see changes first. New stops are listed for the stretch between Tha Chang Pier and the flower market, reducing average walking distance for those wards by 400 metres according to the plan's maps. Households in the affected zones can expect revised timetables posted at existing stops by December 2026.
Next steps and resident access points
The government says the second phase, covering outer wards near the old city wall, will start in July 2027 once phase one data on ridership is collected. Local advocates note that the plan requires quarterly public reports on progress, with the first report due in March 2027 at the municipal hall. Residents can submit route suggestions through the city website until 15 August 2026, after which the final stop locations for phase one will be locked.
Implementation will be tracked against the performance indicators published in the 2026 budget paper, including on-time performance targets of 85 percent for the new routes. The legislation states that any delays beyond the published dates must be explained in a public statement from the transport department within 30 days.