The reporter recently learned from the Publicity Department of the Shunde District Committee of Foshan City that on April 29, the "Feasibility Study Report" for the west extension to Shunde section of the first phase of Guangzhou Rail Transit Line 7 (hereinafter referred to as the "Line 7 West Extension") was officially approved by the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission. It is understood that the project received approval from the National Development and Reform Commission in October last year, passed expert review in January this year, and with this approval, it means that the Line 7 West Extension has all the necessary permits and certificates, and the project is expected to start construction at the end of June this year.
　　According to the project approval, the total length of the line is about 13.64 kilometers, with 7 stations, including 2 transfer stations. The line starts at Meidi Dadao Station and connects to Guangzhou South Station, the design starting point of the first phase of Guangzhou Rail Transit Line 7. The average station spacing is 2.05 kilometers, and a parking lot is set up. The total investment of the project is about 9 billion yuan, and the construction period is about 5 years. The project is expected to start construction at the end of June this year and be completed and put into trial operation by the end of 2020.
　　According to the introduction, the maximum one-way cross-section passenger flow during peak hours in each design year of the project is: initial period (2023) 584,000 person-trips/day, near-term (2030) 889,000 person-trips/day, and long-term (2045) 1.37 million person-trips/day. As an important part of the Guangzhou-Foshan integration strategy, the Metro Line 7 West Extension can integrate the urban rail transit networks of Guangzhou and Foshan, and is of great significance for promoting the flow and docking of urban development factors such as talent, finance, technology, and industry between Guangzhou and Foshan. Next, Shunde will, in accordance with the approval of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, immediately organize relevant departments to deepen the study of the technical schemes in the feasibility study report, revise and improve the compiled preliminary design documents and special reports, conduct preliminary design review in mid-May 2016, and start construction at the end of June.