Institute of Transportation, MOTC

　　With the prevailing concept of sustainable development and the invincible trend of energy saving and carbon reduction, the importance of public transportation has been recognized worldwide. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) also puts the development and promotion of public transportation as the top priority so as to meet the mobility and accessibility of daily travel demand and ultimately, to achieve a high standard of living and environmental quality. However, due to the significant impacts caused by the operation of high speed rail, the adjustment of local government jurisdiction, and the structural changes in the patronage of public transportation resulting from the aging society, the public transportation in Taiwan is facing serious challenges, especially for the intercity bus Industry. Based on this, it deserves an in-depth study for proposing corresponding strategies with regard to how bus operators can alter their service provision to better respond to these challenges, the kinds of action the government can take to improve the public transportation market, and what kinds of countermeasures are required to provide passengers with a more diversified and convenient public transportation service, so as to increase the public transportation patronage and to reduce resources consumed. This project aims to analyze the existent problems and then propose public transportation reform strategies along with corresponding monitoring technologies for the changing operation environment and passenger structure in the intercity bus industry.

　　The following are the major outcomes of this study:

1. The analysis of the impact on intercity bus industry resulted from the changes of operation environment and passenger structure caused by the operation of high speed rail, the adjustment of local government jurisdiction, the aging society, and the trend for fewer children. It can help bus companies and government authorities make right decisions and take actions in time.
2. The development of planning support system of management decision-making for intercity bus industry. The system can be used to help government authorities analyze the deficiency of bus service and offer necessary information to decide whether approve the application of a new bus route.