The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) put forward its Highway Public Transport Enhancement Plan for 2013-2016 today. Premier Sean Chen instructed the MOTC to move forward with the project, which is expected to comprehensively improve Taiwan's overall public transport environment in terms of both facilities and services down to the local level, serving the public and driving local industry and tourism.
The 2010-2012 Highway Public Transport Development Plan has already borne fruit, the premier said, as evidenced by highway public transport's 9.9 percent increase in passengers and 14.3 percent increase in usage between 2009 and 2011. Chen asked the MOTC and the Environmental Protection Administration to work closely to increase the usage of electric buses and the overall transport environment.
The MOTC stated that given global warming, energy price fluctuations, carbon reduction awareness, increased protection for the disadvantaged and other trends, Taiwan's public transport system must adapt to cities' regeneration and change. Hence, it is building on the successes of its 2010-2012 plan. It will seek NT$20 billion (US$682 million) from the Council for Economic Planning and Development's long-term construction fund for the new plan over the next four years.
An MOTC survey in 2011 found 91.3 percent of respondents expressed satisfaction with the nation's public transport system. "This is a clear indication that the public did feel the improvement in quality of service as a result of government promotion of related projects in recent years," MOTC officials said.