On November 28, Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-Cheng attended the “Future in 15 mins｜Taoyuan: Dialogue for Sharing a Good Quality of Life” International Forum. He noted that Taoyuan is undergoing a critical period of urban transformation, with several major infrastructure projects underway, including railway undergrounding, the Taoyuan Metro, and the Taoyuan Aerotropolis Project. While prolonged construction may cause temporary inconvenience, Mayor Chang emphasized that “ten years of disruption will yield a hundred years of progress.” The city government is using this opportunity to enhance everyday infrastructure, upgrade urban landscapes and transit systems, and improve overall quality of life—aiming to build a people-centered, livable city where commuting and daily needs can be met within 15 minutes.
Mayor Chang highlighted that the Taoyuan Metro Green Line is expected to open its northern section by the end of 2026, with full-line service scheduled for 2030. The Green Line will also be extended from Bade to connect with Zhongli. Alongside the Brown Line, railway undergrounding, and national freeway expansion, these projects are steadily improving Taoyuan’s transportation network and significantly boosting commuting efficiency.
He added that the “15-minute city” model serves as a core principle for regional development planning. Several related projects are currently in progress, including the Zhonglu Station Land Readjustment Zone, Bade Municipal Hospital, Pingzhen Senior High School Readjustment Zone, and the Taoyuan Aerotropolis Project. Once railway undergrounding is complete, the released surface area will be converted into extensive green corridors—key to expanding human-centered public spaces. Around mass transit stations, the city will apply the concept of “public facilities at every station”, introducing a mix of large, medium, and small-scale amenities. In addition, social housing and affordable housing will be provided to fulfill the vision of “a home at every station,” ensuring that those who rely on public transportation can live affordably, conveniently, and well.
During the forum, Mayor Chang held an in-depth exchange with Prof. Carlos Moreno of Panthéon-Sorbonne University, known as the pioneer of the 15-minute city concept. Mayor Chang explained that because Taoyuan has long accommodated large numbers of commuters to Taipei and New Taipei City, and given the diverse development patterns of its districts, achieving a citywide 15-minute lifestyle remains a considerable challenge. To address this, the city will focus on creating multi-centered living zones through improvements in employment, education, and healthcare—including generating more local job opportunities, accelerating the rollout of childcare and educational facilities, improving school and commuting routes, and expanding healthcare access through municipal hospital branches.
Mayor Chang concluded by emphasizing that the city has already invested over NT$10 billion in infrastructure in recent years and will continue to allocate resources moving forward. By advancing urban planning in a step-by-step manner and working closely with residents through diverse engagement channels, the Taoyuan City Government aims to steadily bring the “15-minute city” vision to life.