Taiwan to improve public transportation in four years

Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications has set aside a budget of US$333.67 million to improve public transportation from 2013 to 2016. The proposal was approved by the Council for Economic Planning and Development on 20 August 2012. The ministry aims to increase the use of public transport to 18 per cent in 2016 and three per cent in 2025, as compared to 14.3% in 2011. By the end of 2012, 90 per cent of buses in Taiwan are aimed to be equipped with multi-card readers. The penetration rate of low-floor buses is aimed to be raised to 20 per cent from seven per cent currently, in view of the ageing population.