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Hau promises no hike in MRT and bus fares this year

Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) yesterday brushed off plans by some bus companies to raise prices, promising to keep public transportation fares at their current levels at least until the end of this year.

Taipei bus companies said they would raise the one-zone fare from NT$15 to NT$19 after Formosa Petrochemical Corporation cut its subsidy for bus operators from NT$3 per liter to NT$1.1 per liter last week.

Hau said, however, that the city government would keep bus and MRT fares level at least until the end of this year to encourage residents to take public transportation more often.

Yang Hsiao-tung (羊曉東), spokesman for the city government, said bus companies could apply with the city government for increased subsidies to offset the increase in gas prices.

Taipei City Transportation Department Commissioner Luo Shiaw-shyan (羅孝賢) said the department had granted subsidies to the companies last June. Luo urged bus operators not to raise their fares unless necessary.

Taipei transportation officials said the city's policy of encouraging residents to use public transportation had shown results. As of last month, local residents took an average of 1.84 million rides on the city's bus system every day and an average of 1.25 million rides daily on the city's metro system.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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