Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Ou-po (陳歐珀) said yesterday that dozens of Yilan County residents would protest against the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ (MOTC) new freeway “pay as you go” policy, adding that drivers should not be asked to pay tolls when they drive between Suao (蘇澳) and Toucheng (頭城).
Many drivers would take the highways parallel to National Freeway No.5 to avoid paying tolls after the government launches the pay as you go policy, which would cause congestion, Chen said.
He added that the parallel highways are not connected to National Freeway No. 5, so drivers would have to take different routes to reach the freeway, which would worsen traffic.
He urged the ministry to make the Suao to Toucheng section of the freeway toll-free, particularly the 24km section on the Yilan plains.
Chen and DPP Legislator Lee Kun-tse (李昆澤) met with MOTC Minister Yeh Kuang-shih (葉匡時) yesterday in last-ditch negotiations before the protest next week.
Before the meeting began, Yeh said it would be impossible to allow drivers on National Freeway No. 5 without paying tolls.
Based on the ministry’s plan, which it recently announced, each vehicle is given 20km of toll-free distance per day. Only drivers on north-to-south freeways would pay the tolls, including Freeway No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5.
Those driving on east-to-west freeways are not required to pay at this point, but the ministry said it would reassess the situation after the new policy has been implemented for two years.
Chen argued that the Suao to Toucheng section functions more to connect local roads, which are similar to most other east-to-west freeways in the country. Therefore the toll-free privilege should also apply here, he said.
The National Freeway Bureau’s chief engineer, Hsu Cheng-chang (許鉦漳), said Chen’s proposal would only place the burden on taxpayers.
Hsu said the nation collected about NT$600 million (US$20 million) in fees from Freeway No. 5 per year and spent about NT$500 million per year maintaining the freeway, adding the Directorate General of Highways is also funding the county in building connecting roads from the highway to Freeway No. 5.
Freeway drivers will not necessarily be charged more once the government begins charging drivers by distance traveled, he said.
If each vehicle is given 20km of toll-free distance, a round-trip drive between Nangang (南港) and Toucheng would cost NT$49, which is lower than the current fare of NT$80. The trip between Suao and Toucheng costs NT$30 one-way and NT$31 for a round-trip.
“All taxpayers would have to pay for freeway construction and maintenance if drivers do not pay tolls. It is better that whoever uses the freeways pays for them,” Hsu said.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
NATIONAL SECURITY: Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the military personnel involved and investigating possible illegal conduct and regulatory violations Authorities are probing possible national security implications after Kinmen police and immigration officers on Sunday found a Chinese woman allegedly posing as a tourist while engaging in prostitution involving more than 10 military personnel. The woman, surnamed Chen (陳), has since been deported, authorities said, adding that investigators are still working to confirm the identities of those implicated, as the records only listed code names and aliases. The case stemmed from a report received by the Kinmen District Prosecutors’ Office on Friday last week from the Jinhu Precinct of the Kinmen County Police Bureau. On Sunday, police, along with the National Immigration
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
RSS