Asia's New Bay Area in Kaohsiung／亞洲新灣區在高雄
Asia's New Bay Area in Kaohsiung
◎English translation: Marie-claude Pelchat
◎Photos courtesy of Kaohsiung Urban Development Bureau, Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit Bureau.
Kaohsiung's light rail system will be fully operational and linked to both the Red and Orange lines of the Kaohsiung MRT. The new system will significantly enhance the city's mass-transit system and create a more complete urban transportation network. With 35 stations and six transfer stations, the light rail system's two lines (Ring Line and Waterfront Line) will total 22.1km in length. Construction work is to start in October 2012, with the Waterfront Line scheduled to start running in December 2014. The light rail system will improve the quality of transportation in Kaohsiung, create a barrier-free environment, and hopefully encourage the city's 2.2 million motorcyclists to embrace a low-carbon form of transportation.
Port of Kaohisung is the 12th busiest container port in the world. Consequently, Kaohsiung City Government has been actively shaping the port zone to become Asia's New Bay Area. Starting in 2013, the government will initiate a series of building projects in the port area, along piers 15 to 21 and nearby. Projects include the Kaohsiung Exhibition and Convention Center, which will host major international exhibitions, the Port and Cruise Service Center, which will serve travelers, the Kaohsiung Maritime Culture and Popular Music Center, where musical and cultural performances will be held, and Kaohsiung Main Public Library, a superb example of eco-friendly architecture.
Kaohsiung's yacht industry accounts for 80% of Taiwan's yacht manufacturing output, and 90% of the yachts exported by Taiwan leave from Port of Kaohsiung. That is why, in addition to waterfront construction projects, Kaohsiung City Government is planning to build Taiwan's first yacht industrial park in the outer harbor's Dalinpu South Star area. Due to be completed in 2015, the South Star Yacht Industry Park will allow the industry to benefit from a bigger industrial base, and become Asia's luxury yacht manufacturing center.
To lessen the impact of crowds along the waterfront, and to attract investment to the area, Kaohsiung City Government has already decided to expand the planned light rail system to the New Bay Area. This will help promote the redevelopment of Yancheng and Gushan districts, enhance Kaohsiung's business potential and competitiveness, lift its international visibility, and spur private-sector investment.
When the light rail system is completed, Kaohsiung will become a land, sea and air transportation hub, attracting creative, musical, yachting and tourism industries. These will in turn create new employment opportunities, give Kaohsiung a new look, and enhance its international standing.
亞洲新灣區在高雄
◎文／葉娜慧
◎圖片提供／高雄市都發局、高雄市捷運局
高雄市水岸輕軌即將正式上路，結合現有的捷運紅、橘線，將大幅提昇大眾捷運運輸量，構築完整的城市交通網絡。輕軌系統總長度達22.1公里 ，設有35座候車站，6處轉運站，分成環狀輕軌與水岸輕軌二線，預計於2012年10月動工，水岸輕軌線預計在2014年12月通車，環狀輕軌線則在2019 年通車。輕軌系統可望提昇運輸的品質，打造無障礙環境，期能促使高雄市現有220萬輛機車使用者減少碳排放量。
奠基於排名世界第十二大貨櫃港的高雄港，高雄市政府積極形塑「亞洲新灣區」，2013年起，以寬廣的高雄港灣為基地，在高雄港15至21號碼頭及周邊啟動一系列的城市建設計畫 ，包括可舉辦國際級大型展覽及會議的「高雄世界貿易展覽會議中心」、以旅客服務為導向的「高雄港港埠旅運中心 」、加上可演出多場音樂、文化節目的「海洋文化及流行音樂中心」、綠色建築新典範的市立圖書館總館等四大建築 。在市府的規畫下，著眼於高雄的遊艇製造業產值佔全台遊艇製造業的八成，全台九成外銷的遊艇皆由高雄港裝船出口。於高雄港外港區的大林蒲南星計畫區成立全台灣第一個以「遊艇」為主題的「南星計畫遊艇產業園區」，遊艇產業在高雄可擁有更寬廣的產業基地，預定於2015年完成，期能成為亞洲豪華遊艇製造中心。
為了紓解水岸周邊未來湧進的大量人潮，吸引產業聚集投資，高雄市政府已計畫在新灣區內引入輕軌系統，促進鹽埕、鼓山市區發展，打造兼具港都特色與交通便利的高雄市。導入水岸輕軌的亞洲新灣區，將大幅提昇高雄的商業發展潛力和競爭力，擴展高雄國際能見度 ，提昇廠商駐地投資意願。
輕軌交通網完成後，成為陸、海、空轉運中心的高雄市，吸引文創、音樂、遊艇、觀光等產業進駐，創造多元就業機會，再造高雄新風貌，使高雄市更具國際競爭力。