Premier Jiang Yi-huah today accompanied President Ma Ying-jeou for the inauguration of the Songshan Line of the Taipei Metro, which is also known as the Taipei MRT (mass rapid transit).
The construction of the Songshan Line was very difficult because builders had to navigate around the Taiwan High Speed Rail and Taiwan Railways Administration lines already passing through the area, the premier pointed out. After eight years of work, however, the Songshan Line has been successfully completed, adding yet another route to the Taipei Metro, which the premier called a pride of Taiwan worthy to be seen by the world.
Jiang stated that the construction of transportation networks is the nation's most important infrastructural development and is a priority of his administration. In addition to providing convenient transport for people in remote areas, the government wants to offer more expedient, efficient and environmentally friendly transit systems, including MRT lines, to urban residents.
The Taipei Metro is not just a pride of Taipei but also a pride of Taiwan, the premier reiterated. In Taipei, one can easily travel to any destination via convenient public transportation options, including the MRT, buses, and YouBike. This is the fruit of the joint efforts of past Taipei mayors and relevant central government agencies, he said.
Thanks to these comprehensive and convenient transportation services, the Taipei City Government (TCG) expects the use of private vehicles to be greatly reduced and green transportation enhanced. In the meantime the building of MRT lines will help give both Taipei and New Taipei cities a brand new landscape.
The completion of one MRT line per year was an administrative goal Mayor Hau Lung-bin had set upon taking office, Jiang noted, and from 2008 onward the TCG has indeed finished or extended one to two lines annually, with the routes now branching out and connecting in all directions, bringing great convenience to commuters. The premier thus expressed his gratitude and respect to Mayor Hau for his outstanding leadership and to the staff of Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation for their hard work.
The TCG stated that the new track on the Songshan Line—spanning from Ximen to Songshan station—covers 8.5 kilometers (km) with eight underground stations and bears a total cost of NT$49.93 billion (US$1.64 billion). The new line stretches Taipei's MRT network from 121.3 km to 129.8 km, adds three more transfer stations to the existing nine, and is projected to increase commuter traffic from 1.88 million to 2 million per day.