The ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung and Taoyuan mayoral candidates on Tuesday called for expanding a monthly public transportation pass program that current only serves Taipei and New Taipei cities.

The “All Pass Ticket,” launched in 2018, currently offers unlimited use of the Taipei Metro, Danhai light rail, bus services and YouBike rentals of up to 30 minutes in Taipei and New Taipei cities for NT$1,280 (US$40) per month.

At a news conference Tuesday, the DPP nominees from the four cities called for the program to be expanded into Keelung and Taoyuan and also cover other forms of public transportation, at a lower monthly rate of NT$1,200.

In Keelung, for instance, it is essential that the passes cover inter-city buses and Taiwan Railways Administration trains, which many city residents use to commute to work in Taipei, Keelung nominee Tsai Shih-ying (蔡適應) said.

Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), who is running in New Taipei, argued the pass system should also cover the Taoyuan Airport MRT and YouBike rentals of any length, in order to provide greater connectivity within the public transport network.

Lin estimated that the service expansion would cost around NT$3.5 billion per year, and could be partially subsidized out of the central government’s transportation and net zero emission budgets.

Meanwhile, Taipei and Taoyuan nominees Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) and Cheng Yun-peng (鄭運鵬) argued that the proposal could reduce traffic and carbon emissions, while also better reflecting the reality of the shared metropolitan area comprised by the four cities.

Taiwan will hold local elections on Nov. 26.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel