Institute of Transportation, MOTC

• Date：2023-09-19
• Update：2023-09-21
• Department：IOT

 Project Overview

       Due to recent economic development leading to rising living standards, traditional forms of urban public transportation services (fixed routes, planned schedules) no longer satisfy people’s “travel” needs. In 2014, Helsinki, Finland introduced the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) by integrating various modes into a single transportation mobility service. Using long-term passes with preferential offers and mobile devices, the public was provided with transportation services that met their needs. The innovative concept of MaaS integrated transportation has not only been accorded a high degree of importance by the global transportation industry, but advanced nations in Europe and the United States (including the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, and the United States) have launched MaaS programs one after the other.

       In its 2022 version of the white paper on transportation policy, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications identified MaaS as one of the most important development strategies in light of the increasing importance and global promotion of MaaS services. The intelligent transportation systems development program (2021 to 2024) accepted applications from local governments for the MaaS construction plan subsidy in order to gradually expand domestic MaaS services and allow citizens from all parts of the country to enjoy the convenience and sustainability of MaaS services, for the purpose of assisting local governments in promoting MaaS services and imparting past MaaS service promotion experiences. This plan assisted the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in providing guidance to local governments whose subsidy plans were approved (including the governments of Taichung City, Kaohsiung City, Hualien County, Taitung County, and Penghu County). The MaaS services were advertised and launched. In addition, target the planned MaaS service promotion strategies, provide relevant recommendations and consulting, and extend the breadth and depth of MaaS services, thereby extending MaaS service benefits to more areas and comprehensively offering users convenient and cost-effective travel services.

 Research Results

1. Through cross-industry cooperation-related issues, the types of cross-industry cooperation that accommodate the varying travel purposes of users within the MaaS service scope were examined. In addition, cross-industry cooperation issues were the subject of a comprehensive discussion. For example, the collaboration willingness of alliance operators was increased to ensure the legality of cross-industry cooperation details, the balance between services and customer preference, the comprehensiveness of cross-industry cooperation services, the competition of similar products, the enhancement of product purchase ease, etc.
2. Five counties and cities, including Kaohsiung City, Taichung City, Penghu County, Taitung County, and Hualien County, received assistance in promoting MaaS services. In addition, discussions focused on the counties’ and cities’ existing MaaS promotion strategies, serv
3. ice targets/target groups, mode integration strategies, service plans, ticket carriers, pricing strategies, and marketing strategies, among other issues. Relevant counseling outcomes are described in brief below:

• Kaohsiung City: In addition to making recommendations based on existing MeN▸Go service strategies, assistance was provided to promote QR monthly and weekly passes, optimize the APP user interface, and develop relevant user-friendly functions. In addition, assistance was provided to the Kaohsiung City Government, which signed a cooperation agreement with Odakyu Dentetsu, Japan, and All ippon Airways (ANA) to promote MeN▸Go transnational cooperation applications.
• Taichung City: There were pertinent recommendations for the planning and implementation of MaaS in Taichung. Taking into account the impact of the current policy, it is recommended that the initial tourism travel group serve as the target group for the development of suitable mode nitration and pass plans. In addition, assistance has been provided to the Transportation Bureau of the Taichung City Government and its setup teams for modifying the bus ticket verification machines and installing QR reading devices at MRT ticket inspection gates, among other operations, in light of the adoption of the MaaS QR code as the ticket carrier.
• Hualien County: Regarding the planning and implementation of MaaS in Hualien County, pertinent recommendations have been made. The current state of public transportation in the Hualien area is comparable to that of Taitung County, with significant room for improvement. Therefore, the initial target audience for MaaS services consisted primarily of tourists. Initially, transportation coupons for the Taipei Trip lines 303, 304, and 310 were sold to Hualien-bound passengers of Taiwan Railway, Freeway buses, and highway buses. In addition to free gifts and discount coupons, users were enticed to make purchases by receiving these incentives. Enhanced cross-industry cooperation with hotel operators, tourism industry operators, and catering industry operators will result in a greater variety of mode options for platform users. Relevant services and strategies for diverse mode integration are provided through this plan. .
• Taitung County: This plan offers recommendations for the planning and implementation of MaaS in Taitung County. Due to the dispersion of Taitung’s population and the low density of public transportation, it is suggested that tourists serve as the initial target market for MaaS development in Taitung. In addition to taxis and rental cars, the mode integration also includes highway buses and city buses. In order to improve tourism service standards, emphasis is also placed on enhancing driver education training. Subsequently, the MaaS services of Taitung County will incorporate the planning of linking railway and shipping information. Additionally, cross-township diverse mode integration services will be made available.
• Penghu County: Tourism travel groups are the primary service targets of the Judao smart travel platform, and it is anticipated that users will be able to monitor related transportation services and functions through the platform. Currently, the Judao smart travel platform involves the planning and integration of related Taiwan island transportation modes, as well as the provision of sea, air, and land integrated transportation services via the demonstration field. In addition to familiarizing users with pertinent riding information, the mode transfer process can be made less cumbersome. During the planning process for a platform, this document provides recommendations concerning user requirements, operator participation willingness, opinion collection, and diverse mode integration service strategies.

Result Promotion and Benefits

• Through the “MeN▸Go Plan-New Opportunities for Transportation Service Digital Transformation,” the 2022 APEC ESCI-KSP Smart Transport Smart Transport Field-Silver Medal was received.
• The plan’s research results were published in the Sinotech Engineering Quarterly.
• On April 19, 2022, the Transportation Bureau of Kaohsiung City and Odakyu Dentetsu, Japan, were assisted in signing a memorandum of cooperation. The Transportation Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government and ANA, Japan signed a trilateral cooperation memorandum on May 25, 2022 (the Institute of Transportation, the Transportation Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government, and ANA).Furthermore, on June 24, 2022, a visit to ANA was made to jointly discuss future cross-border cooperation and exchange matters.
• The Institute of Transportation submitted a proposal on behalf of Taiwan to the Transportation Working Group (TPTWG) Intermodal and Intelligent Transportation Systems Experts Group, IIEG, which was accepted. The international forum “New Age for Enhancing Mobility Integration” was held by APEC on December 14, 2022.Principal Member Jason Hill of the Transportation Working Group, Representative Audrey Denis of the EU MaaS Alliance, and Manager, Cubic Transportation System Strategy Audrey Denis, lecturer Do Van Manh of University of Transport and Communications, Hanoi, Vietnam, and Ms. Nami Sato, Policy Director, Policy Bureau, International Strategies for Transportation, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism engaged in experience sharing regarding MaaS-related challenges and opportunities in the post-pandemic era, the evolution, promotion, and application of MaaS, and how MaaS altered the public’s perception of mobility.

 Summary of Research Results

With assistance, the Transportation Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government and Odakyu Dentetsu, Japan, signed a memorandum of cooperation on April 19, 2022

Institute of Transportation, the Transportation Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government,
and ANA signed the Memorandum of Understanding on May 25,2022

APEC’s “New Age for Enhancing Mobility Integration” international forum on December 14, 2022

Research Result Report

• MaaS Promotion and Supervision for Taiwan Counties in 2022 (Published in April 2023)