Taiwan opposition questions Taichung metro project speed, citing political motives

A political dispute has emerged in Taichung over the pace of two major metro line expansion projects, with opposition lawmakers accusing the city government of prioritizing projects based on political expediency rather than public need.

Taichung's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) councilor Yang Tien-chung pointed to the stark difference in administrative progress between the "red line" expansion towards Fengyuan, a key area for a potential mayoral candidate, and the "orange line" extension to the coastal region of Qingshui. Both projects' technical service procurement contracts were awarded within 49 days of each other last year.

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Chiang Chi-chen's Fengyuan red line acceleration, and the "Qingshui daughter-in-law" (referring to legislator Ho Hsin-chun) slower orange line.

However, Yang highlighted that the red line project is nearing its final report for central government review, while the orange line, which underwent a revision from light rail to metro, has yet to pass its initial review this year. He questioned if this disparity was a deliberate political move to benefit "Chiang Chi-chen's Fengyuan red line acceleration, and the "Qingshui daughter-in-law" (referring to legislator Ho Hsin-chun) slower orange line.

Taichung Deputy Mayor Huang Kuo-jung refuted the claims, asserting that the city values the coastal region and that the delays are due to ongoing route revisions based on public opinion and the city's decision to upgrade the orange line to a metro. He insisted there were no election considerations, noting that the speaker and deputy speaker's offices are located in the area. The Metro Bureau added that a public hearing for the orange line's feasibility study was held in January to gather local input.

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not the neglect of the coast, the original plan for the orange line was light rail, and later mayor Lu Xiuyan decided to change it to a metro line. Considering the public opinion in the coastal area, the route is still being revised, and there are no election considerations.