Taipei City Government

Chung Hui-Yu, the new commissioner of the Department of Transportation, Taipei City Government, took office on December 25, 2014. Chung expressed that, in the face of global warming and environmental changes, “people-oriented, environmentally sustainable” has become the new wave concept for cities across the world in formulating their transport policies. To realize the objective of Mayor Ko’s Municipal White Paper, which is to make Taipei City a more livable city, the priority actions in the future will include “improve the cycling environment”, “adjust the bus network” and “review parking policies”.

The 48-year-old Chung Hui-Yu, who has a B.S. in Transportation & Communication Management Science from National Cheng-Kung University, and M.S. in Civil Engineering from National Taiwan University, was formerly a supervisor at the Chinese Institute of Transportation, and vice general manager at THI Consultants Inc. She has technical expertise in transportation planning, transport demand forecasting, policy analysis, large project management and integration planning, and has participated in various local and overseas transportation projects, such as Taipei Shezidao’s urban planning review, and Taipei International Flora Exposition’s transportation planning and traffic maintenance. Mayor Ko believes that with Commissioner Chung’s expertise in transportation planning and policy analysis, as well as her proactive and responsible attitude, she is equipped with the complete concept and the related planning and execution capabilities, and thus is a suitable candidate for the commissioner of the Department of Transportation.

Chung said that Taipei City will be organizing various major international events in the future. The process of preparation also serves as an opportunity to change the City. “Velo-city Global 2016”, to be hosted by Taipei, will be in line with major urban cycling development, cultivating a new culture for quality cycling in the future. In addition, a “checkerboard cycling network” will be built to improve the cycling environment, secondary roads will be inspected for implementation of “bike lanes” and bicycle parking space will continue to be added, in working towards steady and sustainable development in Taipei’s cycling environment.

Following the completion of Taipei City’s second stage MRT network, the “bus network”, including the bus routes, will be adjusted and reviewed through transportation analysis using big data, based on the concept of “MRT as the backbone and bus as supplement”. Also, in order to see continued growth in the use of public transportation, pedestrians and cyclists should be provided with a high quality environment. Existing road space should be reallocated, with continued promotion of the measures designed to keep motorcycles out of arcades and sidewalks along sections where there are MRTs. Also, parking space and parking fee management will be reviewed, along with an overall review for taxi waiting areas to reduce cases of taxis looping on the road with an empty car to search for passengers.

In terms of traffic safety, the Department will strive to reduce the casualty rate for young motorcyclists and improve the traffic environment to cater to an aging society. Chung said that continuing to make Taipei’s smart transportation and barrier-free transportation environment a national pride is the objective of the Department of Transportation. May Taipei City’s traffic develop towards a “people-oriented, environmentally sustainable” traffic environment that will make Taipei a more friendly and greener city.