TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The success of the TPASS monthly transportation card is inspiring plans for a short-term version by the end of the year, reports said Wednesday (July 10).

The TPASS is a monthly pass that allows commuters unlimited rides on various transportation services in several urban areas. After it was launched in July 2023, it rapidly spread to 19 cities and counties, offering 24 different formulas to commuters.

Transportation Minister Li Men-yen (李孟諺) told lawmakers that by the end of June, 7.68 million people had bought a TPASS, or an average of 640,000 per month, per Radio Taiwan International (RTI). The system contributed to an increase of 12.7% in public transportation use between July 2023 and April 2024 compared to the same period one year earlier, he said.

Penghu was scheduled to introduce its version of the TPASS in August, though no fare for the system had been announced yet. Taipei and Yilan planned to launch a NT$2,300 (US$70.55) ticket in September for travel between the two areas.

Li said the new TPASS 2.0 version would expand benefits from commuters to other travelers who did not use public transport every day of the month. The pass would be good for 14 days or shorter, with the first trials planned for the end of the year.