On Keelung's Transport Reform, Tung Tzu-wei: Upgrade Public Transport to Ease Keelung's Traffic Pressure

Aug 20, 2026

Keelung City Council Speaker Tung Tzu-wei, the Democratic Progressive Party's candidate for mayor, has put forward a blueprint for transport reform centred on upgrading public transport — good news for the 100,000 commuters stuck in traffic every day, though its success will depend on budgets and cooperation from the central government.

  • About 100,000 people commute in Keelung each day, and congestion has persisted for thirty years, ranking as the problem residents feel most acutely.
  • The city bus fleet is to be replaced entirely with low-floor, barrier-free electric vehicles, with smart electronic bus stop signs installed.
  • Freeway commuting to and from Taipei and New Taipei is divided into short-, medium- and long-term measures: first, more services at peak hours and additional "departures from Keelung"; then widening the freeway and improving interchanges; and finally seeking an elevated freeway to divert traffic.
  • At the same time, YouBike shared bicycles would be introduced, the road network reorganised and parking space planned, with the aim of reducing the number of private cars on the road.
  • The policy has been discussed several times with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Directorate General of Highways; adding services in the short term will require government funding and help for bus operators in resolving staffing shortages.

Outlook: Transport pledges will be the main battleground in this Keelung mayoral race, and whether they can be delivered will depend on central-local resource coordination after the election.

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