In recent years, achieving net-zero carbon emissions has become a vital objective for advanced cities worldwide. As Taiwan’s gateway city and a major industrial hub, Taoyuan faces increasing carbon emissions due to its growing population and thriving industries. With 2.2 million privately owned motor vehicles and nearly 3 million commuters traveling to and from Taoyuan daily, reducing carbon emissions from commuting and developing a green transportation system has become a critical focus for the Department of Transportation in formulating its traffic planning policies.
“How can we increase the adoption of green transportation?” said Huang Hsin-Yun, Section Chief of the Transportation Planning Division, Department of Transportation, Taoyuan City Government. “We are trying to provide convenient green transportation options to cultivate a habit of using public transport among citizens. Whether it’s taking buses, trains, MRT, public bikes, or even walking—all are parts of green transportation. On the city government side, we are actively promoting green transportation tools, such as the YouBike public bike rental system, GoShare electric scooter-sharing platform, and the introduction of electric buses.” Huang highlighted how Taoyuan is developing a diverse range of transportation systems to offer residents multiple green mobility options.
Introducing the TPASS Monthly Ticket: Transforming Commuting Habits
“If we want to increase the public’s use of mass transportation, offering fare discounts is a major incentive. This led to the launch of the TPASS monthly ticket for the Greater Taipei-Taoyuan area. This initiative was strongly advocated by Mayor Chang San-Cheng upon taking office and required coordination with the central government. It also involved integrating the ticketing systems of four cities—Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, and Taoyuan—to make it work. While many regions have introduced discount commuter passes for their living zones, the TPASS for the Greater Taipei-Taoyuan area has the highest usage,” explained Huang Hsin-Yun, Section Chief of the Transportation Planning Division, Department of Transportation, Taoyuan City Government, emphasizing the effectiveness of TPASS in promoting green transportation.
Since its introduction, the TPASS monthly ticket has been widely embraced by commuters. One notable impact has been the increase in ridership on the Taoyuan Airport MRT, which grew from an average of over 70,000 passengers per day to surpassing 100,000. According to surveys on usage and satisfaction with the TPASS, Taoyuan achieved the highest modal shift from private motor vehicles to public transport among the four cities at 11.93%. This not only transformed citizens' commuting habits but also significantly contributed to carbon reduction.
Real-Time Traffic Management and Flow Optimization at the Traffic Control Center
"In addition to promoting carbon reduction through public transportation, we also address private vehicle usage via the Taoyuan City Government Department of Transportation's Traffic Control Center. By optimizing traffic signal timing and implementing dynamic signal control, we aim to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. The goal is to improve vehicle flow efficiency, maximize green light utilization, and minimize unnecessary idling at intersections," explained Liu Hsuan-Ning, Technical Specialist of the Traffic Engineering Division, Department of Transportation, Taoyuan City Government.
Through the Traffic Control Center, the Taoyuan City Government has been restructuring traffic signal timing based on evaluations of road accessibility and flow efficiency. This involves adjusting signal cycles and timing ratios to enhance vehicle throughput and balance green light allocations between main and secondary roads. For congested areas, dynamic signal control has been implemented to optimize green light usage, reduce vehicle wait times, and indirectly lower air pollution and carbon emissions.
Integrating Technology to Build Smart Transportation
"For traffic signals, we have installed wireless communication modules that allow the remote Traffic Control Center to adjust signal timings to match real-time traffic conditions. Additionally, CCTV cameras installed along the roads enable traffic monitoring and management. We are also deploying advanced roadside detection equipment to collect data for future adjustments to the traffic signal system," explained Liu Hsuan-Ning, Technical Specialist of the Traffic Engineering Division, regarding the current applications of smart traffic technology.
The Department of Transportation, Taoyuan City Government, uses roadside detection equipment and diverse traffic data to disseminate real-time congestion information and collect big data for improvement analysis. AI-powered CCTV cameras have also been installed near highway interchanges and major provincial roads, enabling traffic signals to automatically adjust in real time based on current traffic volumes. According to traffic flow analysis, Taoyuan City has the lowest travel time among Taiwan’s six major municipalities, with an average of 15 minutes per 10 kilometers. During peak hours, the city also boasts the highest traffic flow speed at 30 kilometers per hour.
Low-Carbon Transportation: A Vision for the City
Taoyuan leads Taiwan’s six major municipalities in population growth, which has resulted in an increase in locally registered vehicles. This poses significant challenges for road transportation planning. While Taoyuan’s private vehicle usage rate is about 70%—lower than Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung—it is still higher than Taipei's 30% and New Taipei’s 50%, leaving room for improvement. With Taoyuan Metro projects progressing rapidly, the city anticipates a gradual decline in private vehicle usage in the coming years.
In addition, the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Taoyuan’s public parking lots has already met the statutory 2% requirement, and this year the goal is to increase that to 4%, further encouraging EV adoption. The Department of Transportation also aims to provide high-quality and transparent traffic information to assist road users in trip planning and rerouting. In the long term, it supports central government policies by supplying local traffic data to develop vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology standards, striving to manage transportation through technology and reduce environmental impacts.
Huang Hsin-Yun, Section Chief of the Transportation Planning Division, shared Taoyuan’s urban transportation vision: "In recent years, thanks to the concerted efforts of various city departments, we’ve implemented numerous strategies, including improvements to bus networks and road environments. Compared to Taipei and New Taipei, Taoyuan, with its many new urban redevelopment zones, has more space to optimize transportation infrastructure. For example, around Taoyuan Metro stations currently under construction, the new urban plans feature grid-like road layouts to minimize winding roads and provide sufficient width for spacious sidewalks, bike lanes, and even double rows of shade trees. This design will encourage future residents to adopt walking as a primary mode of transportation."