Department of Transportation

During today’s interrogation (August 6) on the operation performance of the city mini bus by the City Councilor, the Taipei City Public Transportation Office has responded that all subsidies were given according to the Mass Transportation Subsidy Regulations (the City Councilor had previously suggested that the government should cancel subsidies for mini bus S1, S5, and S7, and add additional services during rush hours, herein referred to as the Public Transportation Office). By using the approved formula, subsidies will go to routes that are losing money, and not the ones that are making profits. All procedures are handled in accordance with the central regulations, like other service systems in the city.
The Councilor has also raised that an alternate solution is needed to reduce the substantial costs in subsidizing mini bus S3, S9, and S10, whose performance routes have decreased. The Public Transportation Office said they have tried promoting mini bus through flyers this year, scrolling marquees and advertisements, and that in the future, operation efficiency will go hand in hand with passenger’s rights in policy making. To attract more passengers, policies such as route adjustment, changes in number of runs, and more standing room, will be carried out.
According to the Public Transportation Office, the public has become familiar with the service system. The annual passenger capacity of S10 has also grown by 114 percent from 580,000 in 2008 to 1,240,000 in 2009, transporting an average of 3,400 passengers per day. The passenger capacity in January to May 2010 has reached 660,000, transporting up to 4,400 passengers a day, an increase of 61% from 2009 over the same period (410,000 passengers a year, with 2,700 a day). In the coming days, all advice is welcome in perfecting our mini bus operation, so as to encourage more passengers to utilize the mass transportation.

2010-08-06