Legislators Inquire About Taichung Metro Blue Line Progress; Mayor Lu Calls for Accelerated Implementation and Central Government Support

The Taichung City Council held its fourth meeting of the eighth regular session of the fourth council on the 30th, with multiple legislators raising questions about the progress, budget adjustments, and traffic mitigation measures for the Metro Blue Line project. Mayor Lu Chiu-yen stated that due to the central government's approval being approximately two years later than initially expected, the city is making every effort to recover lost time and accelerate all engineering works. The city continues to urge the central government to swiftly approve the revised plan and additional funding, calling for fair support for Taichung’s major rail infrastructure projects.

Councilors Chen Ting-hsiu and Lai Yi-huang expressed concerns over rising construction costs and traffic impacts caused by delayed reviews. Councilors Chang Liao Nai-lun and Chen Wen-cheng inquired about the revised plan, budget adjustments, central government review progress, and phased opening strategies. Other councilors, including Yang Ta-hung, Chou Yung-hung, Huang Hsin-hui, Lin Pei-han, Chu Nuan-ying, Huang Chia-tien, Huang Shou-da, Chang Chia-ngan, Lin Chi-feng, Chen Yu-jung, Wang Li-jen, Tsai Yao-chieh, Chiang Chao-kuo, Lee Tien-sheng, and Lin Te-yu, also voiced interest in the Blue Line’s advancement, urging the city to expedite construction and minimize disruption.

Mayor Lu described the Blue Line project as "plagued by misfortune," noting that compared to Kaohsiung’s Yellow Line, which applied at the same time, Taichung’s project started nearly two years later due to delayed approval. She appealed to the central government, emphasizing that Taichung’s population has surpassed 2.86 million—over one-tenth of Taiwan’s total—and that ridership on the existing Green Line continues to set new records, reflecting high public expectations. She urged fair treatment and recognition of rising material, labor, and construction costs, calling for the approval of additional funding to jointly complete this critical transportation infrastructure.

Nevertheless, Taiwan’s metro engineering technology is now highly mature, and Taichung has valuable experience from constructing the Green Line. The Transportation Bureau and the newly established Metro Engineering Bureau are working together to push the project forward and recover lost time. Mayor Lu emphasized that the electromechanical system is the "heart and blood vessels" of the metro, while civil engineering forms the "skeleton and muscles"—both must advance in parallel for smooth operation. Bidding for various sections is now underway, and construction will proceed step by step according to schedule, aiming to meet the original completion target.

Regarding traffic disruptions during construction, the city plans to use existing arterial roads for traffic diversion and has advanced the Shizheng Road extension project as an alternative route. Comprehensive traffic management and bus rerouting measures will be implemented to minimize impacts on residents.

Director Su Jui-wen of the Metro Engineering Bureau noted that rising material, supply, and labor costs are challenges faced by rail projects across counties and cities. Additionally, because the Blue Line passes through coastal areas, corrosion-resistant special rebar is required, and underground construction techniques are more complex, necessitating a revised plan. The revision process is set to begin in August, with submission to the Ministry of Transportation expected by year-end, aiming for approval in 2024.

Mayor Lu concluded by stressing that metro construction is a vital public infrastructure project crucial to urban development and highly anticipated by all citizens. The city government will continue to follow the principle of "as fast as possible, with quality first," fully advancing all Blue Line engineering works while actively coordinating with the central government to secure necessary support and resources. The goal is to complete the project on time and to high standards, building a more comprehensive rail transport network and providing citizens with a more convenient and safe transportation environment.