New Construction Office

On January 17, 2024, the Ministry of the Interior held an awards ceremony and seminar for the 2023 Urban Road Maintenance Management and Pedestrian Environment Accessibility Evaluation Program at the International Conference Hall of the Institute of Transportation, Ministry of Transportation and Communications. Taipei City not only received the Excellence rating again for the overall performance in the “Special Municipality” group but also secured first place in subcategories such as “Policy Evaluation,'” “Street Layout Evaluation,” and “Transportation Engineering” in the same group. Gaining these accomplishments has served as recognition for Taipei City's dedication.

Lin Kun-hu, Director of the New Construction Office, Public Works Department, Taipei City Government, noted that as a city striving to be the best, Taipei actively improves roads and pedestrian environments in alignment with the central government's policies each year. He also thanked the Ministry of the Interior and the evaluation committee members for their guidance and support over the years, enabling Taipei City to continuously improve in policy-making and implementation. In recent years, the city has transitioned its focus in road designs from a previous emphasis on vehicles to prioritizing people. Additionally, it has been actively leading various innovations to improve overall road quality. These innovations include introducing performance-based contracts for road inspections and maintenance, establishing a visualization management system for roads and affiliated facilities, implementing sidewalk width improvement projects, and various innovative and smart management practices. The goal is to continually enhance road quality in Taipei, as there is always room for improvement in the pursuit of better road quality.

Hung Wei-tsung, the Head of the Utilities Conduit Planning Section, New Construction Office, noted that in addition to pushing forward the Zhongxiao East Road Pedestrian Environment Improvement Project, Liugong Park Green Corridor Pedestrian Environment Improvement Project, and other people-oriented environment improvement projects, the Office is also recently employing a “gradual optimization” approach to prioritize the assessment, improvement, and adjustment of road sections around hospitals and schools in alignment with the Taipei Safe Traffic initiative proposed by the Department of Transportation, Taipei City Government. This involves selecting appropriate locations in areas with existing marked sidewalks to promptly establish basic facilities that separate pedestrians from vehicles, thus ensuring cost-effective pedestrian safety. Focusing on major roads, there is also a proactive effort to establish scooter parking bays, extending the improvement strategy from isolated road sections to a holistic consideration of the overall street layout. The success of these projects has garnered praise from residents, the Ministry of the Interior, and the evaluation committee members. In the future, Taipei City will remain committed to continuous improvement, aiming to offer residents a road and traffic environment that is people-oriented, resilient, and sustainable.