The Taipei Metro's Wanda-Zhonghe-Shulin Line (Wanda Line for short) will significantly contribute to the transportation, economy, and life of residents of greater Taipei, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said today at the commencement ceremony of a construction project for the line's LG02 station.
The Wanda Line will extend from Taipei City's Zhongzheng and Wanhua districts through New Taipei City's Zhonghe, Yonghe, Tucheng and Shulin districts. It will not only connect with other lines in the network but also alleviate the traffic jams suffered by area drivers, Jiang continued.
In addition to offering citizens convenient, efficient and clean transportation, the Taipei Metro—also known as the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit)—has spurred the economic development of the neighborhoods surrounding its stops, transforming old communities into brand-new, modern and high-quality ones through methods such as shopping area development and co-construction with stations, Jiang said.
Jiang indicated that the LG02 station, which starts construction today and will later receive a formal name, will be a part of the Taipei Mandarin Experimental Elementary School complex and close to Jianguo High School. It is also near the Nanhai Academy, which contains the National Museum of History, Taipei Botanical Garden, original National Taiwan Science Education Center building, several social education venues, a radio station and the original National Central Library building.
The area has abundant cultural and educational resources, Jiang said, and once the line and station are finished this potential can be maximized under the planning of the Ministry of Culture and local government cultural affairs departments.
According to the Taipei City Government, the Wanda Line will not only facilitate transit but also play a leading role in urban renewal, helping western Taipei regain prosperity.
The line is expected to alleviate traffic on the Huazhong and Fuzhou bridges and meet the transportation needs of Wanhua, Zhonghe, Tucheng, and Shulin residents. Passengers of the Songshan-Xindian and Tamsui-Xinyi lines will be able to transfer to the Wanda line at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station, and the new line will intersect with the Xinzhuang Line at Huilong Station.
The line's connections at Chiang Kai-shek and Huilong stations will create a loop of transportation service, offering residents in Taipei and New Taipei cities quicker access to many locations and helping the two cities develop and prosper together, Taipei officials said.