Taipei, Dec. 1 (CNA) The number of passengers who took the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) during morning peak hours rose more than 10 percent on Friday, the first day the city provided free public transport in an effort to combat air pollution, according to data released by Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp.
The data showed that the number of passengers taking the Kaohsiung Metro from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 am. on Friday totaled 26,970, up 3,072 or about 13 percent from the same period on Nov. 24.
The free public transportation program was announced by Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu three days ago following a deterioration in air pollution in the largest city in southern Taiwan.
Under the free public transport program, holders of electronic cards, including the iPass, can also take city buses, highway buses and light rail trains free of charge from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. during weekdays.
The program, initiated by Kaohsiung's Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) at a time of worsening air pollution in central and southern Taiwan, will run through Feb. 28.
On the city's light rail system, only passengers with iPass and Happy Cash cards can ride for free.
Chen said that air pollution in Kaohsiung is particularly severe from December to February. In response, the city government program encourages people to use public transport for the commute between home and work.
EPB Director Tsai Meng-yu has said that this is the first program of its kind in Taiwan, noting that it will cost about NT$200 million (US$6.67 million).
Tsai estimates that the three-month program will increase the number of passengers by 1.76 million on city buses, 70,000 on highway buses and 1.6 million on the MRT, which is expected to cut the emissions of carbon dioxide by 16,000 tons.
