NEW TAIPEI (TVBS News) — New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) announced plans on Friday (Nov. 8) to seek central government funding for a new NT$500 monthly pass that combines YouBike and bus services in the Taipei and New Taipei areas.
During a session at the New Taipei City Council, Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) Councilor Jimmy Chen (陳世軒) criticized the current TPASS monthly pass, which costs NT$1,200 and includes MRT, light rail, and intercity buses, as too expensive for students.
Chen suggested a more affordable NT$500 to NT$600 monthly pass to benefit students and light commuters by integrating buses and YouBike.
In response, Mayor Hou agreed that the proposal is a good policy, and intended to coordinate with Taipei City to implement the initiative, aiming to make transportation more affordable. He said the New Taipei City Government's Department of Transportation (新北市政府交通局) would evaluate the idea.
Hou noted that if the "Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures" (財政收支劃分法) were amended, local governments could easily implement the plan. He committed to advocating for budget support from the central government to move in this direction.
Chen further pressed Hou on whether he would consider the proposal if central subsidies and financial resources were available. Hou confirmed his commitment to coordinating with Taipei City to pursue this initiative collaboratively, emphasizing efforts to work towards this goal.