The Taichung BRT () was a bus rapid transit (BRT) system located in Taichung which stretched from Taichung TRA station to Providence University via Taiwan Boulevard, a major thoroughfare. The line was in length with 21 stations. It was the first BRT line in Taiwan. The line was converted to a dedicated bus lane for conventional buses on July 8, 2015, and the BRT is no longer in operation.
Design and construction
An
Taichung MRT system in Taichung has been planned since 1990; however, because of the high cost of building MRT system, the plan was never carried out. The Taichung City Government began planning for a BRT system in place of a MRT primarily because it would cost 25 times less.
The BRT was promoted as an alternative during rush hour, since it ran on a designated lane.
The system was entirely composed of . Unlike conventional buses, the fare was to be paid at the stations, not on the bus. The stations featured ticket gates at the entrance of the station, as well as automatic platform gates that would open and close simultaneously with bus doors. Signal priority was to be given to the buses to save travel time.
The director of Taichung Bureau of Transportation, Mr. Lin, also stated that if one day MRT is constructed, BRT will still be operating instead of being replaced by MRT.[ The director of Bureau of Transportation: Construction of BRT won't impact the promote of MRT construction]
Articulated buses were legalized in Taiwan in February 2012, and construction of BRT blue line started in November 2013. The line opened for the public on July 27, 2014.[ BRT大事紀101年版 (BRT Major Events: 2012 (Fact sheet)) (in Chinese). Bus Rapid Transit of Taichung. January 1, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2015.][ BRT大事紀102年版 (BRT Major Events: 2013 (Fact sheet)) (in Chinese). Bus Rapid Transit of Taichung. January 1, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2015;]
Operation
The line opened for the public on July 27, 2014. The Blue Line operated between the Taichung TRA Station in Central District and Providence University in
Shalu District, with a control center located in Shalu. It took 40 minutes to get from one terminal to another. The route had a dedicated on both sides, except for the section on Taiwan Boulevard Sect. 1 and between the stations Fu'an and Maple Valley Park. A bus arrived approximately every 5–10 minutes to a station. Operation began at 6:00 AM and ended at 11:00 PM at the Taichung Train Station, and began at 5:00 and ended at 10:00 PM at Providence University.
[ Taichung 臺中BRT藍線站位開放時間表 (BRT Blue Line Time Table) (in Chinese). Taichung City Government Transportation Bureau. August 11, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2015.]
Features
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All buses are articulated buses.
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Unlike conventional buses, BRT fares are charged in BRT stations, not on the buses.
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All BRT stations are fitted with automatic platform gates open or close simultaneously with the bus doors.
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Bus priority are installed at the intersection of BRT route to shorten traveling time.
Criticism
Taichung BRT blue line was open to the public on July 28; however, many of the facilities were still under construction, which prompted much criticism. Based on a poll conducted in August 2014, only 16.9% of the passengers were satisfied with the system, and only 25.5% of the passengers said that they would change how they travel based on the new service.
[Chang, Y.-C. (August 11, 2014). Taichung's BRT fails to impress: Poll. Taipei Times;] However, on September 13, according to the poll carried out by the Taichung Youth City Government (台中青年市政府), 51% of the passengers were satisfied with the BRT system, 37% felt indifferent, and 12% were dissatisfied with the system. Proponents of the system stated that because of the BRT lane's signal priority and designated lane, travel time became much shorter.
[ 〈中部〉「青年市府」調查 BRT滿意度5成][ 學生團體民調 BRT滿意51%]
List of stations
|
| BRT Blue Line |
| A01 | Taichung Railway Station | | Central | Taichung | TRA
█ MRT Red Line (due 2016)
█ BRT Orange Line (Planned) |
| A02 | Chang Hwa Bank (planned) | | |
| A03 | Second Market Place / Jen-Ai Hospital | | |
| A05 | Qiedongjiao | | West | |
| A06 | Chung-Cheng Elementary School | | |
| A07 | National Museum of Natural Science | | |
| A08 | Chung-Ming Elementary School | | |
| A09 | Dinghecuo | | Xitun District | |
| A10 | Taichung City Hall | | █ MRT Green Line (due 2018) |
| A11 | Shin Kong Mitsukoshi/Top City Dept. Store | | |
| A12 | Maple Valley Park | | |
| A13 | Fu-an | | |
| A14 | Zhonggang New Community | | |
| A15 | Cheng Ching Hospital | | |
| A16 | Yumen Rd. | | |
| A17 | Taichung Veterans General Hospital/Tunghai University | | |
| A18 | Donghai Villa | | |
| A19 | Pingding | | Longjing | |
| A20 | Zhengying Rd. | | Shalu District | |
| A21 | Hungkuang University | | |
| A22 | Jinjiangliao | | |
| A23 | Providence University | | |
|
| BRT Blue Line West Extension (Planned) |
| A24 | Hongzhu Lane | 紅竹巷 | Shalu District | Taichung | |
| A25 | Sha-Lu Industrial High School | 沙鹿高工 | |
| A26 | Zhonggang Elementary School | 中港國小 | Wuqi District | |
| A27 | Qiucuozhuang（Tungs MetroHarbor Hospital (Wuci Branch)） | 邱厝庄（童綜合醫院） | |
| A28 | Wuci Elementary School | 梧棲國小 | |
| A29 | Taichung Harbor Bureau | 港務大樓 | |
| A30 | Taichung Harbor Passenger Service Center | 臺中港旅客服務中心 | |
| | | | |
Closure
In November 2014, Taichung elected a new mayor
Lin Chia-lung. On December 27, 2014, the newly elected mayor visited the temporary BRT operation center; he criticized the system, calling it a hoax. He pointed out that the 4 billion cost was unjustified and identified the five main deficiencies of the system.
[ 斥資20多億BRT成歷史 台中公車免費里程延長] He called a total demolition of the system.
[ 花40億 林佳龍嗆拆 「BRT是騙局」 (BRT costs four billion NTD, Lin Chia-Lung: "It's an Hoax".)] The decision did not come without opposition; on Jan 24, almost all of the citizens participating in a public forum were against abolishing the system, stating that the system was a lot more efficient than standard buses and the government should just improve on existing facilities.
[ Taichung residents call for bus rapid transit system to be retained][ BRT公民網友踹共論壇 多數盼改善][ BRT踹共說明會來的人都說別拆][ 《台中》首場公民網友踹共BRT 多數要求保留] However, despite the opponents of abolishing the BRT, it ceased operations on July 8, 2015.
Following the discontinuation of the BRT system and conversion into a standard bus lane, the articulated buses and stations continued to be used. The buses were renamed as bus routes 300, 309, and 310, and now share the lane with conventional low-floor buses. Smart cards now have to be swiped on the bus and the BRT equipment at the stations has been deactivated.
See also
