Taichung mayoral candidates Ho, Chiang attend transit hub opening

Democratic Progressive Party Taichung mayoral candidate Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純) and her Kuomintang rival Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) attended yesterday’s opening ceremony for a new bus transfer center expected to make transfers safer and more convenient for commuters.

Speaking at the opening of the Taichung Transfer Center, outgoing Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) said the complex, built at a cost of more than NT$2.1 billion (US $63.89 million), has two above-ground floors and three underground levels.

The center has 12 parking spaces for large buses and serves 27 intercity and city bus routes, offering Taichung residents a more convenient and comfortable commuting experience, Lu said.

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Ho Hsin-chun, front left, and Chinese Nationalist Party Legislator Johnny Chiang, front right, pose for a photograph in a news conference in Taichung yesterday.

Photo: CNA

Ho welcomed the new transit center and called on city authorities to ensure that it provides clear transfer information and better coordination of bus routes and schedules to minimize passenger waiting times and improve the efficiency of the public transportation network.

Chiang also praised the opening, saying the center "serves not merely as a transit hub, but as a landmark in the oldest part of the city."

He added that Taichung needs more transportation hubs of this kind and called for an upgrade to the Wuri transfer center near Taichung High Speed Rail station.

Local elections across Taiwan will be held on Nov. 28.

The elections are also known as the "9-in-1" elections because voters in Taiwan’s 22 cities and counties will cast ballots for candidates vying for nine types of local government positions, including city mayors, county magistrates, and city and county councilors.

Other positions up for election include township chiefs, chiefs of Indigenous districts in special municipalities, township councilors, Indigenous councilors in special municipalities, and ward chiefs.

A total of 11,051 local government officials at various levels will be elected.