Maokong cable car set to start service in February

The Maokong cable car system, a municipal project aimed at developing tourist and recreational potential in the Muzha (木柵) area, entered its test-run phase yesterday and is scheduled to start operation in February.

The cable car, which travels between Maokong (貓空), a popular destination for tea-tasting, and Taipei Municipal Zoo, is also designed to ease traffic over the mountain and shorten traveling time to Maokong to about 13 minutes.

According to Lee Shu-chuan (李四川), director of the New Construction Department at the Taipei Bureau of Public Works, the Maokong cable car is the only cable car system in Taiwan that runs completely in a mountain area, and so public safety was a major concern during the construction.

"The completion date keeps being delayed because the nine-month test run period can't be shortened," Lee said yesterday during the launch ceremony of the test run period at the cable car's Taipei Zoo Station.

The cable car system was built and installed by POMA, a French company, and has five sections, six intermediate terminals, 145 cabins and two cable loops. The line is 4km with a capacity of 8 passen-gers per cabin, transporting 2400 passengers per hour at 6m per second. A one-way ticket will cost NT$50 (US$ 1.50), Lee said.

Attending the launch ceremony, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) expressed regret that he would not see the completion of the one-year project before leaving the city government on Dec. 25.

"But I hope that the operation of the cable car will help to develop the recreational industry and bring prosperity to the southern area of the city," Ma said.

The New Construction Department planned to finish the project before Ma finished his eight-year term by the end of this month to add one more construction to his municipal achievements, but the French company insisted that the nine-month test run period could not be shortened.

Although the cable car passes through attractions including the zoo, Maokong and Chih-nan Temple (指南宮), Lee said the department was striving to develop more attractions around the area.

Ma yesterday also led the press to visit several other major municipal constructions, including Taipei Arena, Taipei Songshan Airport Underpass, Neihu Technology Park, and Nankang Software Park.

During his "graduation tour" before leaving the city government, Ma recounted the city government's successes in building the city-wide wireless system, expanding MRT lines, and renovating sidewalk pavements, and said he expected Taipei Mayor-elect Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) to continue projects including the renovation of traditional markets.

After finishing his term as Taipei mayor, Ma plans to focus on his duty as Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman.

Ma pledged to continue the reform efforts in the KMT.

"As for the mayoral special allowance scandal, whether or not it will influence my bid in the 2008 presidential election is not that important to me ... What matters most is to let people know that I am a person with consistency," he said.