Beitou-Shilin Tech Park, Shezidao Light Rail: Taipei MRT Department Plans to Convert to Medium-Capacity Transit
The Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit Systems has decided to upgrade the planned Light Rail Transit (LRT) for Beitou-Shilin Technology Park and Shezidao to a Medium-capacity Rail Transit (MRT) system. This decision comes in response to the anticipated surge in traffic demand due to NVIDIA's entry and other developments, as existing infrastructure is deemed insufficient.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 14:23
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 14:31 (8 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 15:33 (1h 2m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Liu Chien-pang, Taipei, May 8) With NVIDIA set to move into Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, both blue and green camps are concerned about local traffic. City Councilor Chen Ping-fu requested that the light rail be changed to a medium-capacity transit system, while City Councilor Chen Tzu-hui pointed out that traffic congestion remains. The city government stated that it will plan for a medium-capacity transit system and has already established an inter-departmental task force to address traffic conditions.
NVIDIA announced that its Taiwan headquarters would be located in Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, and a contract with the Taipei City Government was completed earlier this year. In addition, the Shezidao development project is moving forward. Taipei City Councilors are concerned about local traffic conditions, mentioning that important roads in the vicinity are still congested during peak hours.
Democratic Progressive Party Taipei City Councilor Chen Tzu-hui questioned that although the Department of Transportation proposed traffic improvement measures for Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, industries and residents are still worried that it might become a traffic jam hotspot. She observed that during peak hours, traffic is still congested when passing through intersections such as Chengde Road Section 7 and Dadu Road.
She said that traffic becomes congested when passing through the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park area, and Fuguo Road is also often congested. Traffic at the intersection of Chengde Road Section 4 and Zhongzheng Road is also heavy. She asked whether the Department of Transportation would propose more advanced improvement measures.
Director of Transportation Hsieh Ming-hung responded that a large framework has been formulated to address local traffic conditions, and more advanced plans will be developed. Practical measures have already been proposed, such as removing the median strip of the motorcycle-only lane on Dadu Road and responding by adjusting traffic signals and improving road types. The cancellation of the Chengde Road reversible lane is planned for early June.
Chen Tzu-hui stated that many large enterprises have moved into Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, and asked if the Department of Transportation has statistics on traffic flow. A Department of Transportation official replied that the estimated daily traffic volume for Beitou-Shilin Technology Park is currently about 105,000 people, meaning about 100,000 vehicles are active on the roads.
Hsieh Ming-hung said that public transportation tools have been built to improve nearby traffic, such as planning three shuttle bus routes. For example, shuttle buses entering Beitou-Shilin Technology Park have already been opened, and express buses from MRT Zhuwei Station and Tamsui Station into Taipei will be planned.
Chen Tzu-hui stated that the planned development of Beitou-Shilin Technology Park and Shezidao might paralyze local traffic, and the city government should propose a transitional traffic improvement plan as soon as possible. Hsieh Ming-hung responded that the city government has established an inter-departmental task force to address this.
In addition, Kuomintang Taipei City Councilor Chen Ping-fu mentioned with data that with the gradual development of Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, coupled with the residential population in Shezidao and Tianmu areas, local traffic conditions might become even more unbearable. The Department of Rapid Transit Systems originally planned a light rail for the Shezidao line, but believes that its scale might not be able to cope with the local residential and employment population, suggesting that it be changed to a medium-capacity transit system that can accommodate about 10,000 to 20,000 people.
The Department of Rapid Transit Systems responded that when the light rail was planned in the past, Beitou-Shilin Technology Park had not yet been fully developed. After subsequent evaluation, it was believed that the light rail might not be able to accommodate the local residential, traffic, and employment population, and it will be planned as a medium-capacity transit system in the future. (Edited by: Chen Jen-hua) 1150508
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(Central News Agency reporter Liu Chien-pang, Taipei, May 8) With NVIDIA set to move into Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, both blue and green camps are concerned about local traffic. City Councilor Chen Ping-fu requested that the light rail be changed to a medium-capacity transit system, while City Councilor Chen Tzu-hui pointed out that traffic congestion remains. The city government stated that it will plan for a medium-capacity transit system and has already established an inter-departmental task force to address traffic conditions.
NVIDIA announced that its Taiwan headquarters would be located in Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, and a contract with the Taipei City Government was completed earlier this year. In addition, the Shezidao development project is moving forward. Taipei City Councilors are concerned about local traffic conditions, mentioning that important roads in the vicinity are still congested during peak hours.
Democratic Progressive Party Taipei City Councilor Chen Tzu-hui questioned that although the Department of Transportation proposed traffic improvement measures for Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, industries and residents are still worried that it might become a traffic jam hotspot. She observed that during peak hours, traffic is still congested when passing through intersections such as Chengde Road Section 7 and Dadu Road.
She said that traffic becomes congested when passing through the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park area, and Fuguo Road is also often congested. Traffic at the intersection of Chengde Road Section 4 and Zhongzheng Road is also heavy. She asked whether the Department of Transportation would propose more advanced improvement measures.
Director of Transportation Hsieh Ming-hung responded that a large framework has been formulated to address local traffic conditions, and more advanced plans will be developed. Practical measures have already been proposed, such as removing the median strip of the motorcycle-only lane on Dadu Road and responding by adjusting traffic signals and improving road types. The cancellation of the Chengde Road reversible lane is planned for early June.
Chen Tzu-hui stated that many large enterprises have moved into Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, and asked if the Department of Transportation has statistics on traffic flow. A Department of Transportation official replied that the estimated daily traffic volume for Beitou-Shilin Technology Park is currently about 105,000 people, meaning about 100,000 vehicles are active on the roads.
Hsieh Ming-hung said that public transportation tools have been built to improve nearby traffic, such as planning three shuttle bus routes. For example, shuttle buses entering Beitou-Shilin Technology Park have already been opened, and express buses from MRT Zhuwei Station and Tamsui Station into Taipei will be planned.
Chen Tzu-hui stated that the planned development of Beitou-Shilin Technology Park and Shezidao might paralyze local traffic, and the city government should propose a transitional traffic improvement plan as soon as possible. Hsieh Ming-hung responded that the city government has established an inter-departmental task force to address this.
In addition, Kuomintang Taipei City Councilor Chen Ping-fu mentioned with data that with the gradual development of Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, coupled with the residential population in Shezidao and Tianmu areas, local traffic conditions might become even more unbearable. The Department of Rapid Transit Systems originally planned a light rail for the Shezidao line, but believes that its scale might not be able to cope with the local residential and employment population, suggesting that it be changed to a medium-capacity transit system that can accommodate about 10,000 to 20,000 people.
The Department of Rapid Transit Systems responded that when the light rail was planned in the past, Beitou-Shilin Technology Park had not yet been fully developed. After subsequent evaluation, it was believed that the light rail might not be able to accommodate the local residential, traffic, and employment population, and it will be planned as a medium-capacity transit system in the future. (Edited by: Chen Jen-hua) 1150508
Stand with the facts, every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.