Premier Jiang Yi-huah said today that moving Kaohsiung's rail lines underground will improve traffic and expedite development of the city and its roadways.
"This will improve quality of living and benefit the whole Kaohsiung metropolitan area," the premier said during an inspection of city's underground railway project on Sunday.
The project, approved in 2006 and slated for completion in 2017, will put the existing section between Zuoying and Fengshan below ground. Seven railway crossings and numerous overpasses, which contributed to a development gap between northern and southern parts of the city, will eventually be eliminated in the single-phase project to promote urban renewal and land development, Jiang noted.
The premier saluted the crew at the Railway Reconstruction Bureau (RRB) under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications for their dedication to this difficult task. He also expressed appreciation to Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chu and Deputy Mayor Liu Shih-fang for facilitating communications between the central and local governments, as well as to legislators for securing the necessary funding.
"As long as the public projects benefit citizens, everyone, regardless of which political party or level of government they belong to, should work together to resolve difficulties," Jiang said.
In response to concerns raised by Kaohsiung City government and councilors about the local government's share of funding for the Fengshan station, the premier said he would devise a satisfactory solution with the Council for Economic Planning and Development.
The RRB said the entire project would cost approximately US$3.3 billion and span 15.37 kilometers in length. It will move the Zuoying, Kaohsiung and Fengshan stations underground and add seven commuter stations in between, turning Taiwan Railways into a more convenient and rapid mode of transit.
The RRB added that the underground line will not only help integrate parts of the city divided by the original railway routes, but also serve as a third metro line after the red and orange lines. When connected to the future circular Light Rail Line, it will create a more efficient transportation network for Greater Kaohsiung, improve traffic between northern and southern Kaohsiung, and expand the city's metropolitan areas.