KRTS’ Contribution to Energy Saving and Carbon Reduction
As the most significant infrastructure development in urban Kaohsiung in recent years the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit System (KRTS) deeply affects citizens’ transportation demands and quality of life, and also changes the region’s environment and land usage, as well as promoting industry and economic development.

Starting regular service from September 2008, KRTS is engaged in continuously enhancing public transport usage. Every year the ridership increases by more than 6％ and the average daily ridership has risen from one hundred and ten thousand riders to one hundred and thirty-five thousand riders. KRTS offers Greater Kaohsiung residents a safe, reliable, convenient and comfortable transportation service, and by shortening the commuting and traveling time also promotes the development along the rapid transit system serving to promote city rebuilding.

According to research from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the fuel consumption of the rapid transit system per passenger-km is 0.006 liter which is much lower than other transportation. Low fuel consumption reduces the carbon dioxide emissions and has the benefit of carbon reduction and energy conservation. The opening of KRTS brings total savings of gasoline consumption of 6,705,622 liter (about 6.7 million liter) and creates a benefit of a reduction in carbon emissions of about 14,752 tons of carbon per year with a monetary value of NT$12,391,981 per year (about twelve million new Taiwan dollars). According to CPC a liter of gasoline emits 2.2 kilogram carbon dioxide (CO2). Using the international carbon trading price of 20 Euro (about NT$840), KRTS gives a reduction of about 14,752 tons of carbon per year with a monetary value of NT$12,391,981 per year (about twelve million new Taiwan dollars). Based on the above information, the opening of KRTS has created huge external benefits for Greater Kaohsiung’s energy conservation and carbon reduction policy.

The rapid transit system not only conserves energy and decreases carbon emissions, but also offers people a safer and more comfortable transportation option. The expectation that more people will change their habits from using private transport to taking the MRT for commuting would further demonstrate the value of green transport and create a sustainable life style of energy conservation and carbon reduction.