During the pandemic period, the Kaohsiung MRT Siaogang Linyuan Line Plan proceeded without interruption. The Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan, R.O.C. (Taiwan) (EPA) and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) separately convened the initial meeting of the project team and the MRT Plan Review Committee meeting on June 7 (Tuesday) and June 8 (Wednesday), respectively, which were reviewed and approved, with the support of the the central government.

Staging first was the second initial review meeting of the project team on environmental impact assessment convened by the EPA on the 7^th. Through a video conference, the Environmental Impact Statement of Kaohsiung Metropolitan Area MRT System Siaogang Linyuan Line was reviewed. The Kaohsiung City Government Deputy Secretary-General Wang Chi-Chuan led the Mass Rapid Transit Bureau, the Environmental Protection Bureau and the Transportation Bureau to attend. The meeting mainly reviewed the comments mentioned at the initial review meeting of the project team on environmental impact assessment on April 27, 2022. The comments included: the appropriateness of the setup of the RL7 elevated station, the prevention of construction vehicles from entering road sections falling short of the transportation service standards and during peak hours, the specific approaches for the acquisition of the Independent Management Mark for construction equipment and transportation vehicles, control planning, the monitoring of the surrounding ecology of Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) and other issues. The Kaohsiung City Government explained each in detail and obtained approval at the initial review meeting. The city government would like to extend its gratitude to the environmental evaluation committee members for their reminders and suggestions. It will do its utmost to take various ecological environmental protection measures for the MRT Siaogang Linyuan Line construction projects. During the construction period, it shall be committed to fulfilling environmental assessment matters, thereby reducing the impact of the construction on the environment.

Staging next was the “Comprehensive Planning of Kaohsiung MRT Siaogang Linyuan Line” Review Committee meeting via a video conference held on the morning of June 8, 2022. The meeting was hosted by MOTC Political Deputy Minister Hu and experts and scholars were invited to the video conference. Relevant ministries, including the Department of Transportation, Environment and Natural Resources, Executive Yuan; National Development Council, Public Construction Commission, Executive Yuan and other agencies were also invited to attend. The Kaohsiung City Government Deputy Mayor Charles Lin also led the representatives of the Mass Rapid Transit Bureau; Finance Bureau; Transportation Bureau; Economic Development Bureau; and Urban Development Bureau to join. The meeting conclusions drawn: The Siaogang Linyuan Line Comprehensive Planning Report proposed by Kaohsiung City Government was in principle approved. The Kaohsiung City Government was requested to modify the report based on the comments proposed by the committees and units that attended the video conference. Upon confirmation by experts and scholars, the report was submitted to the MOTC and forwarded to the Executive Yuan for approval in accordance with the procedures.

Kaohsiung City Deputy Mayor Charles Lin said that the MRT Siaogang Linyuan Line route passes through three major national industrial parks with the annual output totaling 1.52 trillion and accounting for a part of the southern semiconductor corridor. Additionally, the Siaogang Linyuan area has long been subject to environmental pollution caused by national economic development and the threat posed by heavy vehicles in the port area. The MRT construction is urgently needed to boost the overall local development. The promotion of the Siaogang Linyuan line has its importance and necessity. At present, the Environmental Impact Statement and the Comprehensive Planning Report were approved at the initial review meeting of the project team and the MRT Plan Review Committee meeting. Given the subsequent approval of the comprehensive planning, environmental evaluation, and basic design by the central government, groundbreaking and construction will commence by the end of 2022. The objective is to complete the construction and commence operation in 2030.

Director-General Wu Yei-Long of Mass Rapid Transit Bureau pointed out that the MRTB, CPC Corporation, Taiwan (CPC) and the Taiwan Petroleum Workers Union had repeatedly communicated and tackled the issue of RL7 Station location in this project. The existing delivery plan is 300 meters from the CPC plant, which will be extended to the Pingtung road section in the future, passing through the CPC plant and other chemical plant areas. The comprehensive use of fire-proof and explosion-proof steel plate shields will undergo planning. The noise, heat, explosion and flame protection functions are intended to prevent the MRT facilities from being affected by industrial accidents in the surrounding areas of the plant. The facilities have been applied in actual cases, such as Taiwan Power, chemical engineering production area, MRT, etc. This plan was reviewed and approved by the Review Committee of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications today. The full support and assistance of the central ministries will continue to be sought and the prompt approval of the project by the Executive Yuan is hereby requested.