《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 Ko, Lin Yu-chang discuss city projects

JOINT DEVELOPMENTS: The newly elected heads of Taipei and Keelung said that rail connections between the two cities would pave the way for youth housing complexes

Independent Taipei mayor-elect Ko Wen-je （柯文哲） and Democratic Progressive Party Keelung mayor-elect Lin Yu-chang （林右昌） yesterday announced a plan to create a commission with representatives from Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung and the future special municipality of Taoyuan to integrate metropolitan functions.

請繼續往下閱讀...

As part of an effort to enhance cooperation between Taipei and its neighbors, Ko paid a visit to Lin yesterday afternoon, after visiting the mayors of Taoyuan and New Taipei City earlier in the week to discuss intercity cooperation.

“During the meeting, I proposed creating a commission that includes Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung, and Taoyuan, in which we may discuss the development of the cities as a living circle from a regional development point of view,” Lin said as he escorted Ko from his campaign office.

Lin said he has long thought that improved integration was needed because though Keelung and Taipei are separate cities, they are within one living circle, since between 70,000 and 80,000 Keelung residents commute to Taipei for work or school.

“I therefore asked Ko to allow Keelung-based buses to go directly into Taipei to make it easier for commuters,” Lin said. “Also, to prevent Keelung from being marginalized in the future, I think it is important for Keelung to connect to the Nangang District [南港] transportation hub in Taipei via its Mass Rapid Transit [MRT] system — in other words, I think it is important to have a new MRT line connecting Nangang and Keelung.”

At the moment, a Taiwan Railways Administration and Taipei MRT line stop at Nangang Station, while High Speed Rail services are to be added.

Keelung could provide land to construct social housing complexes for Taipei if needed, Lin added.

Ko agreed with all of Lin’s ideas on enhancing connections between Taipei and Keelung, as well as creating the commission for regional development.

“When the MRT line between Nangang and Keelung is finished, I plan to construct youth housing complexes along the MRT line to fulfill my campaign promise to build 50,000 youth housing units,” Ko said. “It would help to solve the land issue.”

Both men said they are looking forward to working together.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES