New ‘pay-as-you-go’ freeway policy to be introduced in Taiwan

A ‘pay-as-you-go’ policy is set to be introduced on some of Taiwan’s national freeways from August or September 2013, the country’s Minister of Communications, Yeh Kuang-shih, has revealed. People driving along north-south freeways will get 20km of toll-free distance before having to pay a fee. According to results of a survey carried out by the National Freeway Bureau (NFB), the 20km toll-free policy was supported by 40% of Taiwan's population. The ministry will soon be briefing parliament’s Transportation
March 15, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
A ‘pay-as-you-go’ policy is set to be introduced on some of Taiwan’s national freeways from August or September 2013, the country’s Minister of Communications, Yeh Kuang-shih, has revealed.

People driving along north-south freeways will get 20km of toll-free distance before having to pay a fee.

According to results of a survey carried out by the National Freeway Bureau (NFB), the 20km toll-free policy was supported by 40% of Taiwan's population. The ministry will soon be briefing parliament’s Transportation Committee on the toll fee changes.

Meanwhile, Lee Kun-tse, a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator, has disclosed that the amount of freeway tolls collected by the NFB totals US$ 740.70mn (TWD 22bn) a year. Toll rates should be reduced, says Kun-tse, if the NFB’s yearly revenue surpasses the amount. Responding to this, the Transportation and Communications Minister has agreed to reduce the rates if annual revenue from toll fees surpasses TWD 22bn. A total of three possible toll options had been proposed by the NFB in 2012.

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