Page 8 - 捷運技術 第40期

2 王偉 王君惠 捷運系統內湖線規劃紀要

The Planning Process of Neihu Line

Wei Wang June-Huey Wang 2
1
Abstract

Construction of the Neihu line was approved by the Executive Yuan on August 7, 1993.
Before that, the route has once been altered according to the resolution made by the Taipei City
Council that the line should be adjusted to pass through Songshan Airport, then via Dazhi, Neihu
and end at Nangang Economic and Trade Park. Unfortunately, the Muzha line came across an

incident – a tire caught fire during the system testing period. The Taipei City Council made
another resolution that DORTS must stop the just begun work of the detailed design of the Neihu
line and perform further study of the MRT system and find a substitute mode to take the place

of the elevated medium capacity transit (MCT) system as approved. DORTS then studied many
alternatives and compared those with the approved one and held many public hearings based on
the Mass Rapid Transit Act. After a comprehensive comparison and evaluation, the approved
elevated MCT system of Neihu line obviously outshined the other ones, meanwhile the results
of the opinion polls also showed most people could accept the construction of the approved line,

with dissent still coming from a few people. Due to the central government’s financial concerns,
the Ministry of Transportation and Communications wouldn’t pay Taipei City government more
than the approved expense to build it. In addition, the revised plan needed to be sent to the

central government for review and approval again. Accordingly, the schedule of the Neihu line’s
commercial service will be postponed, and no one can tell when the day will be. After nine years of
study, comparisons, evaluation of alternatives, plus continual communication and negotiation with
residents and city councilors, the originally approved Neihu line was finally accepted by the Taipei
City Council on January 9, 2001.

Keywords: opinion polls, public hearing