Yilan County and the Ministry of Transportation Mobilize Together: Seven Measures to Ensure a Smooth Trip to Yilan During Mid-Autumn Festival

▲Traffic congestion is a common sight on Freeway No. 5 during long holiday periods. (Photo / Reporter Chen Shichang)

Reported by Lai Wen-hsuan / Comprehensive Reporting

In response to the holiday travel rush for homecomings and tourism starting on the 26th for the Mid-Autumn Festival break, Yilan County Government continues to collaborate with the Ministry of Transportation and related agencies to establish a task force. They are analyzing traffic solutions and transportation strategies for the holiday period.High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) restrictions will be implemented on southbound and northbound Freeway No. 5 from the 26th to the 28th.In addition, the Directorate General of Highways has also introduced discounted public transport fares for round trips to and from Yilan, encouraging the public to make use of them.

The Directorate General of Highways anticipates congestion in certain sections, and the level crossing at Pinglin on Taiwan Route 9 in Yilan, which sees frequent train crossings, will be particularly busy during peak hours from 9 AM to 1 PM.On average, drivers will have to wait around 20 minutes per hour due to lowered barriers.Travelers are advised to avoid these times if possible to prevent travel delays.

The Directorate General of Highways also recommends that travelers plan their itineraries early, avoid peak hours, or take alternative routes.Taiwan Railways also announced on the 25th that it will add three additional round-trip commuter express trains between “Taipei and Yilan,” offering a special discounted fare of NT$100.They are encouraging more people to take the train. For intercity bus services, in addition to increasing the number of trips, seven cruise-style chartered bus services will be launched during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday period. Passengers can enjoy discounts at the Lanyang Museum or the Traditional Arts and Crafts Center shops by presenting their bus ticket stubs.

In response to the Mid-Autumn holiday, Yilan County Government has elevated its transportation service capacity to the same level as that of the Lunar New Year holiday. Information on various transportation and service measures within the county is as follows:

I. Freeway Control Measures:

1. During the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday period from September 26 to the day before September 28, 2015 (104 year), all national freeways will have suspended tolls from 11 PM to 6 AM daily.

2. On September 26 and 27, from 7 AM to 12 PM, HOV restrictions will be implemented at the southbound entrance ramps of the Nangang System, Shiding, and Pinglin interchanges on Freeway No. 5. On September 27 and 28, from 3 PM to 8 PM, HOV restrictions will be applied at the northbound entrance ramps of the Su’ao, Luodong, Yilan, and Toucheng interchanges on Freeway No. 5.

3. Freeway No. 5 will implement dynamic ramp metering controls. During the control period, large buses will be given priority access at the northbound entrance ramps of the Toucheng, Yilan, Luodong, and Su’ao interchanges. Additionally, the shoulder of Freeway No. 5 between the 33 km and 31 km marks will be opened dynamically to allow vehicles exiting at the Toucheng interchange to use it.

4. To check Freeway No. 5 traffic conditions, the public can visit the website of the Directorate General of Highways or use the 1968 APP.

II. General Road Control Measures:

1. Traffic control and guidance will be implemented at several congested areas including the Dali Tian Gong Temple section and Lanyang Museum section of Taiwan Route 2, the Luodong Guangxing section of Taiwan Route 7C and Meihua Intersection on Yilan Route 33, the Jiaoxi section of Taiwan Route 9, as well as the northern entrance of the Su-Hua Highway and the South澳 level crossing. The public is advised to take note.

2. Taroko National Park’s Taiping Mountain Forest Recreation Area will enforce a total visitor capacity limit. Once the number of visitors reaches 2,800, an announcement will be made via police radio and electronic message boards. When the number hits 3,000, access control will be enforced. Visitors planning to go there are advised to pay attention.

▲Kuo-Kuang Bus (Photo / Screenshot from Kuo-Kuang Holiday Travel fan page)

III. External Public Transport:

1. To encourage the public to use public transport when traveling to Yilan, the Directorate General of Highways has not only increased the frequency of existing intercity bus services but has also launched seven cruise-style intercity bus services during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. Passengers can enjoy discounts at the Lanyang Museum or the Traditional Arts and Crafts Center shops by presenting their bus ticket stubs.

Check out the 15 scenic spots and fares for Yilan’s cruise-style intercity bus services here.

2. During the holiday period, intercity bus operators will increase services flexibly based on actual passenger demand. Additionally, to encourage the use of public transport, priority passage for large buses will be dynamically implemented at northbound ramps within the county during peak hours, which is estimated to save approximately 20 minutes of travel time.

3. Taiwan Railways will add three additional round-trip commuter express trains between “Taipei and Yilan” during daily peak hours of the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday period, offering a special ticket price of NT$100. The public is welcome to make use of this service.

IV. County Public Transport:

1. To continuously improve the quality of public transport connection services, two main trunk bus lines (red line) and seven scenic spot shuttle bus lines (green line) will provide seamless connections from various Taiwan Railway stations and intercity bus transfer stations to tourist attractions. Ridership information is available for collection, and those with Taiwan Railway or intercity bus ticket stubs can ride for free on the same day. The public is encouraged to take advantage of these services.

2. Urban public transport maintains its regular schedules, offering free rides to the public. Taiwan Tourist Shuttle operates additional services during the holiday period to enhance frequency and better serve both urban areas and scenic spots along the routes (Traditional Arts Center, Dongshan River Water Park, Wufengqi Scenic Area, and Linmei Hiking Trail). The extra services are as follows: For the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Dongshan River Line, additional shuttle buses have been added on the "Ludong Railway Station Rear - National Traditional Arts Center" segment, running both ways with a total of 16 services. The Jiaoxi Line also adds 24 round-trip shuttle buses on the "Jiaoxi Railway Station - Linmei Stone Flagstone Hiking Trail" segment. After these additions, peak-hour service intervals for both routes are reduced to one bus every 15 minutes.

3. To promote Yilan tourism and encourage the use of public transportation, the county government has introduced the Yilan Fun Card, which offers various discounted packages, allowing visitors to easily enjoy benefits on food, accommodation, sightseeing, shopping, and transportation all with one card.

V. Temporary Parking Lots

1. To meet the parking needs of visitors in the Nangangao area, the county government has coordinated with the Su'ao Port to allocate part of the dock space to create additional parking lots.

2. The county government has opened up vacant land at its affiliated schools to serve as temporary parking areas, aiming to accommodate the increased demand for urban parking during the consecutive holidays.

VI. Traffic Management Measures for Congested Sections in Jiaoxi

1. Encouraging use of alternative routes: Additional directional signs have been installed to guide through traffic via County Road 192, Yilan Route 8, and Yilan Routes 6 to 191, as well as Taiwan Route 2, heading north. Traffic can then connect to Pinglin Interchange via the North-Yilan Highway or proceed to Taipei and Keelung via Taiwan Route 2, thereby diverting through traffic.

2. At congested intersections along Park Road and the stretch from Jiaoxi Transfer Station to Toucheng Interchange, police authorities will strengthen traffic management measures to keep intersections clear and increase towing of illegally parked vehicles.

3. In the event of congestion on national highways, the Yilan County Police Bureau Emergency Response Center will coordinate horizontally with the National Freeway Bureau and the Directorate General of Highways. Variable Message Signs (CMS) will display diversion advisories. When congestion extends back to the Jiaoxi Transfer Station, the bureau will initiate diversions for national highway buses, redirecting southbound traffic to Yilan Interchange for northbound travel. The county police will also manage traffic diversions on Yilan Route 6 and remind road users to utilize alternative routes.

VII. Traffic Information Hotlines

1. During the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, the public can check real-time traffic conditions on the websites of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ National Freeway Bureau and Directorate General of Highways (http://www.thb.gov.tw), as well as through the Traffic Radio Real-Time Traffic Reports, the Freeway Bureau’s 1968 App, and the Directorate General of Highways’ Real-Time Traffic App.

2. To report or inquire about traffic conditions, besides contacting the county police bureau and its stations, the public can directly dial the 1999 service hotline. Customer service staff will then transfer the call to the police bureau’s local line. Alternatively, callers may dial the county police bureau’s “Traffic Emergency Response Center” local line at 03-9351274 for inquiries. The public is encouraged to make use of these services.