Neihu plunged into traffic chaos as Formosa Plastics Group relocates over 4,000 workers

Neihu plunged into traffic chaos as Formosa Plastics Group relocates over 4,000 workers

2023-10-20

Rush hour traffic at Neihu Technology Park on Friday became even more hectic than ever, as Formosa Plastics Group began operations at its new headquarters in the area. The firm’s relocation has added 4,000 workers to Neihu District, which has long been plagued with traffic woes. The company says it has launched shuttle bus services and implemented staggered working hours to minimize the impact, but local residents say traffic is even worse than before.

A group of workers rush across the street to get to work. A warden directs the flow of traffic while police officers are at the ready. Formosa Plastics Group has moved to a new building in Taipei’s Neihu District, bringing a large number of new commuters to the area.

Chen Yen-lin
FTV reporter
Formosa Plastics Group has relocated to a new building, bringing over more than 4,000 employees. That’s making rush hour in Neihu even more hectic than it already was.

Local resident
Even before Formosa Plastics Group moved in, our traffic was already a mess. In the morning and evening rush, buses would get stuck in traffic for ages over there at Zhoumei Borough. And, the traffic links to this area weren’t that good to begin with. There’s no MRT, and there’s very few buses servicing the area. Sometimes the bus comes but you can’t get on, or you can assume the risk and try to cram yourself in.

Chiu Li-ling
Zhoumei Borough warden
Traffic really comes to a standstill. Residents in our borough who go to the Nanjing Apartment Market to buy groceries have no bus for their return trip. What can they do to get back if they can’t take the bus? And for the kids in Zhoumei Borough, there are no buses they can take to school. There’s no space for them at 7 or 8 in the morning.

Locals are frustrated, and the borough warden gets complaints nonstop. Locals report that even before Formosa Plastics Group moved in, long lines would form at bus stops, and spaces on buses would be scarce. The company has released a statement saying that, since April this year, it has been in talks with the Taipei city government to increase the number of buses servicing the area. In addition, it offers shuttle bus services to 480 employees and flexible working hours to stagger out commutes.

Hsieh Ming-hung
Taipei City Department of Transportation
We are drawing up plans and reviewing proposals to update road layouts, YouBike docks and bus connections.

Formosa Plastics Group moved out of its almost 50-year-old building in Dunhua North Road to Neihu, bringing in over almost 5,000 employees. The extra burden has only worsened traffic in the area, with residents asking for solutions from the government and the company.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

台塑近5千員工搬進內湖地方怨"擠不上公車"

2023-10-20

台塑集團的敦北起家厝因為屋齡近50年，要進行都更，特別在內湖成立新的總部大樓，超過4000名員工進駐，也衝擊到內科交通，不過地方卻抱怨說，公車站大排長龍、根本擠不上公車，台塑說，從4月起已經向市府交通局反應，要求增加公車班次，集團也加開接駁車、採分流上班來疏散人潮。

大批員工準備過馬路、趕著上班，一旁還有義交幫忙指揮，大批警力都來站崗，台塑集團搬新家，現在員工通通都要到內湖總部上班。

[[民視記者陳妍霖]]
“台塑集團新的總部大樓成立，一口氣來了4000多人，也讓原本上下班時間，交通擁擠的內湖，現在是如臨大敵”

[[當地居民]]
“台塑還沒有來之前，我們這裡交通就已經很亂了，上班時間跟下班時間，公車在那個週美里那邊，都要堵很久很久，然後加上我們這邊本來交通就不方便，沒有捷運然後公車班次又少，公車來了就上不去，我真的就硬擠上去不顧危險”

[[內湖區週美里里長丘麗玲]]
“真的是交通癱瘓，因為我們里民要到南京公寓，那邊菜市場買菜，回來完全搭不到(公車)，然後那些長輩你看，他們搭不到車他們要怎麼辦，我週美里的孩子們，連要去上學都沒有公車可以搭，7點到8點完全是上不了車”

地方民怨沸騰，里長接到不少客訴，因為通勤尖峰時期，公車站前大排人龍，根本擠不上去，不過台塑發聲明，從4月起已經向市府交通局反應，要求增加公車班次，集團也加開接駁車，每日疏運人數可達480人，另外，員工啟動彈性分流上班。

[[台北市政府交通局長謝銘鴻]]
“包括我們這些路型的改造，還有YouBike一些設置，還有公車的接駁規劃，我們都有在做一些規劃還有檢討”

台塑集團舊總部因屋齡將近50年要進行都更，整個總部大遷徙，從敦化北路搬到內湖，近5000名人進駐，也讓內科交通雪上加霜，如何解套，市府及台塑正在想辦法。

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Michael Vincent Manalo explains the series of artworks "Chasing Dreams." This painting was inspired by his art residency in Poland. The painting utilizes augmented reality. After downloading an app and swiping the QR code, the painting is presented on the visitor’s mobile phone through animation or video. This is a new exhibition at The Studio. Manalo is a digital painter and photographer from the Philippines, but he is now based in Taiwan.

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In 2005, I started to have a vision for how those things might be combined. Teaching at Taipei American School really honing my skills as a teacher, and then in the process of doing all that, realizing there is a space and niche here in Taiwan for art and food. Then, started doing art dinners in about 2017. At the time we were doing the art dinners, I got a lot of feedback saying," This is really good. This is very enjoyable. This is not like a normal type of dinner. It is not like a Michelin type of dinner. It is not a gallery." It is a good combination where conversation emerges. That was one my goals was to create a space that would build conversations about art, about artistic things, and about creative people.

Aside from showcasing the works of talented artists, the space also holds talks and serves a variety of customers. The studio also provides catering.

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It ranges from a Taiwanese set menu. Western menu. We also serve Indian food. We have people come in to talk about art and art history. We regularly have dinner related to art. It is called the Artist Open House. We invite people to come and dine as artists and commune together. Both of my cofounder and I really love Taiwan a lot. Such that we want to contribute with a space like this that is unique. Special for artists, and for diners and people who appreciate art in general.

By combining art and food, The Studio hopes to create a platform for talented artists and to also provide art lovers a space to dine and converse about art.

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Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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