The Council for Economic Planning and Development yesterday approved a two-stage plan by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to build a 13.99km light-rail transit system by the end of 2023 to provide transportation for people living in Tamhai New Town (淡海新市鎮) in New Taipei City’s (新北市) Tamsui District.
“The system is expected to cost NT$15.31 billion (US$525.98 million) and will generate NT$14.16 billion in revenue 30 years after its completion,” said Chung Wen-li (鍾維力), the deputy chief engineer of the ministry’s High Speed Rail Bureau, at a press conference.
Chung added that it is still too early to tell how many jobs the project would create.
The first phase of construction, which will begin this year and is to be completed by 2018, includes 14 stations along the Green Mountain Route and the part of the Blue Sea Route that links the Green Mountain Route to Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf, the council said.
The second phase of construction is to include six stations along the Blue Sea Route, linking Tamsui Mass Rapid Transit Station to the wharf.
The population of Tamhai New Town is currently 16,000 and the bureau estimated that it would grow to 120,000 by 2041. The system is designed to accommodate the projection of a 120,000-strong population.
The central government is to provide NT$1.67 billion to fund the project, with the Construction and Planning Agency to provide NT$7.09 billion and the New Taipei City Government to provide NT$6.55 billion, Chung said.
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