TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taoyuan drew massive crowds over the weekend, leading to severe traffic congestion. As the event enters its final weekend, running until Feb. 23, municipal officials have introduced new measures to improve traffic flow.
According to the Taoyuan Tourism Administration, 2.576 million people visited the festival via the A18 and A19 MRT stations on opening weekend. The influx of visitors quickly overwhelmed the Qingpu Special District, causing gridlock at many intersections and MRT stations, UDN reported.
At its peak, nearly 30,000 people entered and exited A18 Station, placing immense pressure on local streets and public transportation, including shuttle buses. Parking lots filled up rapidly, and police were deployed to direct traffic.
To alleviate congestion, authorities have announced several new transportation measures, including additional shuttle buses, increased MRT and high-speed rail service, and enhanced crowd control at major transit stations. Starting at noon each day, two new shuttle routes—A16-A18 and A19-A20—will operate to reduce wait times and improve passenger flow.
For travelers transferring from the high-speed rail station to the airport, additional signage and personnel will be deployed to guide passengers more efficiently. This is expected to streamline transfers between the subway and the airport.
To further ease congestion at MRT stations, Taoyuan MRT will keep fare gates open during peak hours, allowing passengers to swipe their cards without delay, expediting the exit process.
With parking at A16 and A20 stations reaching capacity, alternative parking lots and additional roadside parking areas will be opened. City officials encourage the public to park in designated areas and take shuttle buses to the festival grounds.
Additionally, airport taxi services will be expanded, and shuttle bus schedules between Terminal 2 (A13 Station) and Taoyuan High-Speed Rail Station (A18) will be adjusted to accommodate demand.
Municipal officials are urging festivalgoers to use public transportation and cooperate with on-site crowd control staff to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone.
