National railway construction projects are a key plank in the ROC government’s policy of promoting green transportation and reducing carbon emissions, according to the Council for Economic Planning and Development March 20.
“Lifting investment in public transport while promoting rail transportation is a feasible way of reducing private vehicle usage,” a CEPD official said.
“The government will continue allocating state resources to projects providing seamless connections to public transportation and strengthening their financial health in an effort to develop greener and more sustainable transportation systems.”
According to the CEPD, government investment in 2013 rail track construction, as a percentage of all major public infrastructure projects, will break the 30 percent mark for the first time. At the same time, the proportion set aside for road construction will drop below 20 percent.
The latest Ministry of Transportation and Communications data showed that investment in road construction dropped from NT$81.4 billion (US$2.73 billion) in 2009 to NT$36.5 billion in 2013, while rail track construction rose from NT$47.6 billion to NT$53.8 billion.
From 2008 to 2011, rail transportation as a percentage of all passenger volume in western Taiwan rose from 17.09 percent to 19.33 percent, with compact cars’ share dropping to 73.1 percent from 76 percent. Daily rapid transit ridership in urban areas went up from 1.31 million to 1.8 million.
“These changes indicate that public investment in railways is making an impact in terms of traffic volume transfer,” the official said.
The CEPD said major rail projects this year include construction of additional stations on the Taiwan High Speed Rail, electrification of Taiwan Railways Eastern Line, development of new rapid transit lines for Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung cities, as well as Taoyuan International Airport; and the purchase of upgraded rolling stock. (JSM)
Write to Meg Chang at sfchang@mofa.gov.tw