About 620,000 commuters in 11 cities and counties are to benefit from the T-Pass, which is to launch on July 1, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced yesterday.
The T-Pass that could be used in Taipei, Taoyuan, Keelung and New Taipei City would cost NT$1,200 per month, giving people unlimited access to MRT systems, light rail, city buses, highway buses and Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) services operating within the four cities.
T-Pass users in Taipei, New Taipei City and Keelung would be eligible for the first 30 minutes of a YouBike ride free of charge, while those in Taoyuan would get the first hour for free.
Photo: CNA
Commuters in those cities can purchase T-Passes issued by EasyCard Corp (悠遊卡).
T-Passes in Taichung, and Changhua, Nantou and Miaoli counties would cost NT$699 per month for Taichung residents and NT$999 for residents of the three counties.
Commuters can use T-Passes to access MRT systems, city buses, highway buses and TRA services operating within the region.
Those in Taichung, Changhua and Miaoli would have access to the first 30 minutes of a YouBike ride for free with a T-Pass.
The Taichung City Government is offering two other T-Pass monthly plans for commuters traveling within the city, including a NT$299 option for Taichung residents and a NT$599 offer for non-residents.
T-Passes in this region would be issued by EasyCard Corp, iPass Corp (一卡通票證) and iCash Corp (愛金卡), but those issued by iCash Corp cannot be used for TRA services or YouBike.
T-Passes in Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung County would cost NT$999 per month.
In addition to the MRT system, light rail, bus, railway and bike services, commuters within that area can use T-Passes for ferry services connecting Gushan (鼓山) and Cijin (旗津), and Cianjhen (前鎮) and Jhongjhou (中洲) in Kaohsiung.
Commuters in the region can choose a T-pass plan that costs NT$399 if they only travel within one county, while those in Tainan and Pingtung County can choose a T-Pass plan that costs NT$299, but does not include TRA services.
The introduction of the T-Pass would help the government achieve net zero carbon emissions, Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) told a news conference in Taipei.
The plan would be implemented earlier than planned thanks to a special budget of NT$20 billion (US$650.2 million) over three years, Wang said.
“If it proves to be an effective way to increase public transportation usage, we would continue funding the program using a regular budget,” he said.
People can purchase T-Passes at MRT, railway and bus stations, as well as at convenience stores and township offices from Thursday next week, the ministry said, adding that they can be used from July 1.
The number of T-Pass users could reach 620,000 during the initial phase, including 500,000 in the north, 80,000 in central Taiwan and 40,000 in the south, the Directorate-General of Highways said, adding that it is still considering T-Pass plans proposed by nine other cities and counties.
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