More than 900 transportation experts and specialists have signed a petition launched on Sunday calling for a more transparent and systematic approach to reviewing major transportation projects around the nation.
The petition was launched by Tamkang University Department of Transportation Management professor Chang Sheng-hsiung (張勝雄), one of two experts who resigned from the ministry’s review committee for the Taoyuan Railway Grade Separation Project immediately after the committee approved the project on Nov. 15.
Chang accused the ministry of failing to follow due process in reviewing the project.
He also referred to the project as a “money pit,” saying not only has its budget surged from NT$30 billion (US$983.2 million) to NT$120 billion, but it would also cause the Taiwan Railways Administration’s (TRA) maintenance costs to rise 10 times.
Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Friday said that Chang should not impose his opinions on others, adding that the ministry would continue with the project and that Chang’s opinions would be listed for reference.
Lin also said that transportation experts should help local government officials make their proposed projects more feasible, and that the government “should not allow only a small group of people to have the final say on the national transportation policy.”
“We want experts to help the government implement good policies and move Taiwan forward. Due to opposition from a few review committee members, the ministry was not able to implement any railway grade separation projects in the past five to six years,” he said.
Chang launched the petition after Lin said he was only one of a few experts who opposed railway grade separation projects.
Chang called for a transparent and systematic approach to reviews of transportation projects, as well as a re-evaluation of the policy to implement railway grade separation projects across the nation.
The petition collected 931 signatures within 36 hours, Chang said on Facebook.
Its supporters include 53 college professors from transportation, urban planning and landscaping departments; 245 specialists from construction firms and private transportation business operators; and 182 officials from the ministry, local transportation departments and the TRA.
Of the supporters, 98.9 percent agreed that the ministry should have a more open and transparent mechanism to review transportation projects, while 98.7 percent said it should publicize information about important projects and the procedures it has followed when reviewing them.
About 96 percent said that the government should evaluate the policy to promote railway grade separation projects and transform the TRA into a system like the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit System.
However, 56.2 percent said they opposed the ministry’s plan to remove the self-liquidation ratio from a list of criteria used to approve transportation projects.
“The results show that many transportation experts share my thoughts on this matter. I am not alone and definitely not from a small group of experts. They also show that many government officials cannot dare speak out against their supervisors. If this is the atmosphere that dominates the organization, then leaders cannot hear the voice of experts, which could hurt the nation,” Chang said.
Lin was asked about the petition yesterday after a groundbreaking ceremony for the Railway Technical Research and Certification Center in Kaohsiung.
He reiterated that the ministry followed due process when reviewing and approving important transportation projects, but agreed that the review process should be more open and transparent.
“We are willing to re-examine the opinions of experts and adopt some of the good ones,” he said, adding that all voices should be heard in a democratic nation.
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
Taipei is to implement widespread road closures around Taipei 101 on Friday to make way for large crowds during the Double Ten National Day celebration, the Taipei Department of Transportation said. A four-minute fireworks display is to be launched from the skyscraper, along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10pm. Vehicle restrictions would occur in phases, they said. From 5pm to 9pm, inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are to be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open. Between 9pm and 9:40pm, the section is
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday hosted a reception to celebrate Double Ten National Day. Conservative Canadian lawmaker Marc Dalton called Taiwan a “beacon of courage and resilience in the face of rising authoritarianism,” according to a post on the Taiwan in Vancouver Facebook page. Also in attendance were fellow conservative caucus members Tako Van Popta and Chak Au, who said that Taiwan plays an “indispensable role” in ensuring global peace, prosperity and stability due to its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, it said. Canadian lawmaker Michael Cooper also recorded a message wishing Taiwan a
RSS