The funds will be used over a three-year period, with NT$4.2 billion scheduled to be disbursed in 2010, said Chi Wen-jong, director of the Department of Railways and Highways under the MOTC.
The plan was made public the same day that the MOTC released the results of a recent survey indicating that the nation uses public transportation only 13.4 percent of the time.
The survey found that in Chiayi City, the only city on the island with a Bus Rapid Transit system, the use of public transportation stands at only 2.5 percent, the lowest in the nation. Even sparsely populated Hualian County has a higher percentage.
In Kaohsiung City, which already has a mass rapid transit system in place, the rate is only 6.7 percent. Taichung City and Tainan City, both of which have proposed building mass rapid transit systems, have rates of 6 percent and 5 percent, respectively. Taiwan’s figures fall well behind those of other nations in Asia.
Taipei City uses public transportation more than any other city in Taiwan, but even its usage rate is only 34 percent. By contrast, public transportation usage rates are 92 percent in Hong Kong, 87 percent in Tokyo, 84 percent in Singapore, 75 percent in New York, 64 percent in Berlin and 57 percent in Paris.
Even though Taiwan’s cities have such low public transportation usage rates, they have recently requested the MOTC provide them with funds to build mass rapid transit systems or light rails.
The MOTC has rejected these proposals, saying local governments can start discussing things such as light rails when their public transportation rates show improvement.
“Instead of fighting for funds to build light rail systems, it would be better to increase the use of public transportation first,” said MOTC Minister Mao Chi-kuo.
According to the outlines of the MOTC plan, local governments will be asked to submit public transportation proposals, while the central government will provide the funds to help increase public transportation and usage rates, especially in less densely-populated areas, said Chi.
During the initial stage, the MOTC will select one to three cities or counties and provide them with extra assistance, he added.
When the MOTC begins evaluating the proposals next week, emphasis will be placed on whether the projects are efficient and viable in the long term. Some suggestions include: transportation systems that provide a smooth transition between city and county; purchasing new buses; and establishing bus lanes.
Chi said the funds should be used to cover transportation operating deficits in remote areas and areas on which the government is placing a special emphasis. The government will subsidize at least 30 percent of operating costs, and at most 70 percent.
No matter how remote the area, “the government has to take care of the needs of its people,” Chi said. Through its use of subsidies, the government hopes that the goal of “ buses for every township” can be realized, he said. (HZW)