The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) yesterday announced measures aimed at reducing the volume of traffic on Chang Wei-shu Memorial Freeway (Freeway No. 5) during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday.
In a bid to reduce the volume of traffic during the holiday by 5 percent, the ministry is introducing a special bus service and increasing the number of express trains between Taipei and Yilan County.
The heavy traffic on the freeway during long weekends and major national holidays has presented a challenge to the ministry because of the limited capacity of Hsuehshan Tunnel — the longest tunnel in Taiwan.
Department of Railways and Highways Deputy Director-General Wang Mu-han (王穆衡) said that the special bus service allows visitors from Taipei to visit tourist attractions in Yilan.
According to Wang, the four itineraries include visits to hot prings, Suao Harbor, eco-tourism attractions and various factories offering local products to visitors. The fares for one-day trips range from NT$199 to NT$399.
Wang said that travelers can depart from the freeway bus depot near Taipei Railway Station, Taipei Bus Station on Civic Boulevard and Taipei City Hall Bus Station. Meanwhile, 68 hotels and bed-and-breakfast service operators in Yilan are offering 10 to 20 percent discounts to travelers who produce bus tickets, he said.
Visitors to Lanyan Museum and the National Center of Traditional Arts can also receive a 20 percent discount if they present used bus tickets, he said.
The Taiwan Railway Administration is to add six extra Taipei-Yilan trains to the timetable during peak hours of the holiday, Wang said, adding that passengers can get a 30 percent discount on ticket prices.
“If these measures decrease traffic on the freeway by about 5 percent, it would be a significant improvement,” he said.
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