“Getting both projects underway is a testament to our commitment to creating a network capable of meeting residents’ needs in the 21st century,” New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu said at the groundbreaking ceremony.
According to Chu, it normally takes 15 years to complete a metro line. “But by tackling the 7.8-kilometer LRS and 720-meter spur road at the same time, this is expected to save eight years and see the former finished by 2021 and latter 2017,” he said.
Upon completion, the NT$17.81 billion (US$579 million) LRS and NT$560 million spur road are expected to reduce the commute times of 150,000 local residents to New Taipei’s Banqiao District and Taipei City by 15 to 20 minutes. They will also help ease traffic congestion within Ankeng.
The LRS, which begins at Erbazi Botanical Garden Station and terminates at the ninth station Shisizhang, will connect passengers to the Greater Taipei metro network. (DF-JSM)
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