Li Sichuan proposes three major projects including smart park phase two, Guangfu line extension, and Shenkeng LRT

Attending the joint campaign headquarters establishment ceremony for You Hao-lin in Xindian District, New Taipei City, today, Li Si-chuan clearly proposed three specific construction visions, hoping to drive the overall development of Greater Xindian through infrastructure. Since the 1990s, Xindian has continuously attracted populations and enterprises due to its proximity to downtown Taipei and convenient transportation, with its population density now exceeding 100,000 residents and residential and commercial demands rising simultaneously. Facing the pressure of urban expansion, local leaders have successively used large-scale public infrastructure as the key to enhancing competitiveness, and Li's proposals are a concrete response to this trend.

The first vision is to accelerate the planning and construction of the second phase of the Xindian Baogao Smart Park. Originally initiated in the 2010s and focusing on the semiconductor, information technology, and green energy industries, the Baogao Smart Park has already absorbed over 100 enterprises and created thousands of job opportunities. The second-phase project is expected to expand the land area by nearly 30 hectares, add R&D buildings and innovation incubation centers, and introduce smart manufacturing and Internet of Things demonstration fields. Local government officials stated that if completed on schedule, it will further elevate Xindian's position in the Greater Taipei technology industry chain while driving up the appreciation potential of surrounding commercial and residential markets.

The second is to promote the extension of the Zhonghe-Guangfu Line to connect with the Shizhang station in Xindian. Since its opening to traffic in 2014, the Guangfu Line has become an important MRT route between Zhonghe and Yonghe, but to date it still terminates at Zhonghe Station and fails to directly serve the population in eastern Xindian. The plan to extend it to Shizhang in Xindian will fill this transportation gap, enabling Xindian residents to reach downtown Taipei within 15 minutes while reducing commuter traffic and carbon emissions. Relevant units have conducted preliminary environmental impact assessments and route surveys, estimating that planning can be completed within the next five years, at which point it will provide stronger support for Xindian's residential and commercial development.

The third construction project is the concept of connecting the Shenkeng Light Rail to the Taipei Zoo. Due to geographical limitations from mountainous terrain, the Shenkeng District has long suffered from inconvenient transportation, with residents mostly relying on buses or private cars for travel. Characterized by low tracks and low noise, the light rail system, if extended from Shenkeng to the Taipei Zoo in New Taipei City, will form a circular transportation network, enhancing tourism and travel convenience for local residents. This project is also regarded as a demonstration project to increase the proportion of green transportation in New Taipei City, with preliminary planning expected to be completed within the next ten years, alongside efforts to secure matching central and local government budgets.

Li emphasized that these three major constructions are not only hardware projects, but also the keys to driving industrial upgrading and improving the quality of life. In the past, New Taipei City's transportation and industrial layouts largely focused on large-scale MRT routes and industrial parks; however, as population aging and environmental sustainability issues become more prominent, local leaders must balance economic growth with environmental protection needs. If the aforementioned plans can be smoothly promoted, they are expected to attract more high-tech enterprises and innovative talents to move in, while increasing public transportation usage rates and reducing reliance on private cars, which will have a positive effect on reducing air pollution and traffic congestion.

Overall, Li's three major visions reflect the transitional demand of Xindian District in its urban development stage, and also demonstrate the role of local politicians in vying for central government resources and integrating local opinions. In the future, if breakthroughs can be made in key links such as budgets, land expropriation, and environmental impact assessments, it will bring multiple benefits to Greater Xindian in terms of industry, housing, and transportation, further enhancing New Taipei City's competitiveness and quality of life within the Greater Taipei metropolitan area.