TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) announced Thursday (May 23) that it plans to launch a new TPASS tailored for non-commuters by the end of 2024.
Li Meng-yen (李孟諺), the minister of Transportation and Communications, highlighted that the current TPASS primarily serves commuters. Still, the forthcoming version aims to cater to non-commuters with options similar to multi-ride tickets or international 10-day passes.
Details regarding the specific number of days and pricing are still under discussion, Li shared.
MOTC Deputy Minister Chen Yen-po (陳彥伯) explained that the goal of the non-commuter TPASS is to encourage more people to use public transportation, including Taiwan Railways, MRT, and buses. The plan is to adopt a system based on a certain number of rides or short-term use.
Since its introduction less than a year ago, the TPASS monthly pass has seen significant uptake, with over 6.08 million top-ups and 446 million rides across various modes of transportation.
However, an analysis of usage data since its launch in July 2023 reveals that the same group of users continues to utilize the monthly pass, with an average of about 600,000 monthly top-ups. This insight has driven the ministry to diversify its offerings to attract a wider user base.