Green councilor blasts eight-year standstill at Taichung high-speed rail gateway district: “Lu does nothing, Ho will act immediately”

The Taichung High-Speed Rail Gateway District has remained in the evaluation stage for eight years, drawing a sharp attack from Democratic Progressive Party councilor Ho Wen-hai.

The district sits beside Taiwan High-Speed Rail’s Taichung Station, TRA’s Xinwuri Station and the Taichung Metro Green Line station. Ho called it a key transportation gateway for central Taiwan and accused Mayor Lu Shiow-yen of “submitting a blank paper” before leaving office. He said the project could remain stalled under Chiang Wan-an and argued that only DPP mayoral candidate Ho Hsin-chun could break the deadlock.

The city government joined a central government urban planning project in 2021 concerning the integrated development of the high-speed rail station gateway area. The central government has asked Taichung to explain the project’s public benefit and necessity. The city must also explain the delay in September and submit a formal letter outlining its expected timetable.

Urban Development Bureau official Li Cheng-wei said the city must coordinate connecting roads with the overall assessment of the MRT Blue Line, which would intersect the metro system at Taichung Station. He said the gateway district’s industrial and development role remains under review, while changes to the high-speed rail special district and unclear future policy have left its urban planning position unresolved.