The China Post
Date: June 18, 2016
By: Christine Chou
TAIPEI, Taiwan — The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部) has
n this file photo, then-Taipei transportation chief Chung Hui-yu (鍾慧諭) stands beside Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) at a city council interpellation session. (Photo courtesy of the Taipei City Government)
welcomed suggestions made Friday by Taipei City Department of Transportation (DOT, 交通局) Commissioner Chung Hui-yu (鍾慧諭) during her last day on the job.
In an open letter, Chung told the ministry that the main reason for traffic congestion over the Dragon Boat Festival holiday was the increased number of vehicles on the road, rather than the cancellation of a nighttime toll-free policy.
“(Elsewhere, most) cities deal with congestion by restricting vehicle use and encouraging people to opt for public transportation,” but Taiwan seems to have gone in the opposite direction, Chung wrote.
Implementing toll-free policies and fixed prices encourages highway use and should be avoided, even during rush hour, she said.
Chung also told the MOTC that the only solution to congestion on Freeway No. 5 was for Yilan County to raise parking fees during holidays and to improve local public transportation. [Full story]