Wed, Sep 10, 2025 page8

• [ LETTER ]

  • • 
    • 
    • 

  Preserve bus underpass

  Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) and Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan (李四川): Why do you want to demolish the bus-only underpass at the Gongguan traffic circle? The underpass is the main East-West avenue on Roosevelt Road serving large numbers of bus commuters traveling to and from areas such as New Taipei City’s Xindian (新店) and Wulai (烏來) districts and Taipei’s Muzha (木柵) area.

  The roundabout can be removed, but please do not fill in the underpass. Without the underpass, severe traffic jams would inevitable occur at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Keelung Road during rush hours, affecting the traffic flow for campuses such as National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology and National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) at Gongguan, as well as National Chengchi University and several other schools.

  Many students have already voiced opposition to the project, with some wearing vests that read “Oppose filling in the bus underpass,” “Oppose demolishing the Gongguan traffic circle” and “We hope the government listens to public opinion,” while a protest named the “Traffic Circle Walk-and-Read Rally” is to be held at 7pm on Friday.

  Why is Chiang so hell-bent on demolishing the underpass?

  As public officials, Chiang and Lee have chauffeurs who whisk them around the city — how could they possibly understand the daily struggles of bus commuters stuck in traffic? Might I ask whether these two “lords” in office and the government’s so-called “road experts” have ever taken a bus on this route to experience it firsthand? They must know that once the Gongguan traffic circle is demolished and the underpass for buses filled in, all kinds of vehicles — including thousands of scooters and mopeds — would be able to pass through in every direction. When added to dozens of large buses, this higher traffic volume would increase the likelihood of traffic incidents. How could filling in the underpass possibly reduce the number of traffic incidents?

  Every time I take a bus on the 280 or 668 routes to the NTNU Branch stop at Gongguan, then turn back on Roosevelt Road toward Taipei’s Beitou District (北投) or New Taipei City’s Sijhih District (汐止), the bus almost always — about nine times out of 10 — gets stuck at a red light at the intersection of Keelung Road.

  By contrast, bus routes that use the underpass run smoothly without interruptions — they can travel directly from Gongguan toward Xindian or Wulai, or turn left at Xinglong Road toward Muzha.

  However, if the underpass is filled, buses heading from Gongguan Station toward Xindian, Muzha or Wulai, or in the opposite direction, would inevitably encounter red lights, clogging up the Keelung Road intersection. That would be particularly painful for commuters using the Gongguan traffic circle during rush hour.

  With regard to the demolition of the roundabout, the local village head asked officials responsible by asking where they themselves lived. The Taipei City Council’s Transportation Committee postponed the project on June 16 after widespread criticism, requesting that the city government reconsider suggestions from all sides and hold another coordination meeting.

  However, Chiang’s administration has completely ignored this, stubbornly pressing ahead with the demolition set for Saturday. Citizens cannot help but feel helpless in the face of such blatant disregard for public opinion.

  So, Mayor Chiang — if after filling in the bus-only underpass, the traffic incident rate increases and traffic becomes even more congested — will you take responsibility for your mistake in judgement and step down?

  Lee Ming-liang

  Taipei
• Most Popular

  • 1

    Chinese landing ships vulnerable, military expert says

  • 2

    Australian, Canadian ships transit Strait

  • 3

    US senator urges deeper US-Taiwan ties

  • 4

    A new Yancheng District rises in Kaohsiung

  • 5

    Tourist arrivals to Taiwan rise 10% from last year