Go With the Light Rail Transit! / 輕軌捷運我先行！
The City Government expects that with a thorough plan, Lingang Light Rail Ring Line will become a main component of downtown Kaohsiung's transportation network as well as a facilitator of the city's tourism. The Ring Line, together with development of nearby land, will contribute to the unique style of Kaohsiung, a closer relation between Kaohsiung and its residents, and the further development of Kaohsiung City.
The five-car light rail tram, the first one in the nation, has already started its free trail run at Urban Spotlight. Koahsiung City Government has strived hard to obtain a NT$500-billion- budget from the Central Government to build the Light Rail Lingang Ring Line. The Council for Economic Planning and Development has included this budget proposal on its priority list of privately conducted projects. The Executive Yuan has also included the budget proposal in its construction program in which it plans to spend NT$500 billion over 5 years. As soon as the Legislative Yuan approves the budget, constructors can start to bid for the four-and-half-year Light Rail Transit contract. According to the contract, the Light Rail section from Shihchung 1st Rd. to Chunghua 5th Rd. will be open to tram traffic first.
The unlimited increase on the number of automobiles has created problems such as air pollution, congestion, and urban environment deterioration. Our life quality has therefore decreased while the cost to society has increased. Building the Light Rail Transit System has become a new way to reduce the burden on the urban environment and to establish a sound living environment.
Green Transporation
Currently Kaohsiung's Light Rail Transit System has only two lines-the red line and the orange line. It still cannot function as a transportation network reaching to every part of the city. That's why the City Government is striving to construct a Ring Line. The Light Rail Transit System is characterized by its speed, comfort, zero pollution, low noise, and low energy consumption. Being called as a form of "green transportation", Light Rail Transit is a major solution to congestion and environmental pollution for many cities in the world. It can also serve as a landmark in the city.
In the early days of Light Rail Transit, it was operated on the road and the car model was rather simple. In the eighties, Light Rail Transit was designed to eliminate urban congestion. However, most of the platforms at that time were pretty low to the ground while the trams had high floors. Passengers had to step onto stairs to enter the tram, which was very inconvenient for the disabled. The development of Light Rail Transit advanced tremendously in the nineties with passenger-friendly designs such as high platforms. Modern Light Rail Transit has a high capacity, low platforms, and low-floored cars. It is also very passenger-friendly, comfortable to ride, and blends well into cityscapes.
Kaohsiung Lingang Light Rail Ring Line
It will be 17 kilometers long. There will be a total of one control station and thirty-two tram stations. The construction budget is about NT$13.4 billion. After completion, Lingang Light Rail Ring Line will be linked with the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Line to form an even integrated network of mass transportation.
Destinations along the Lingang Light Rail Ring Line include: an intermodal transfer station of Taiwan High Speed Rail, Taiwan Railway, Mass Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit; an academic, hospital, and recreation center; a shopping center; Kaohsiung Commerce and Trade Integration Park; Hamasen; Love River; Tzaishan.
In order to give the public a chance to experience the convenience of Light Rail Transit, Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit, Kaohsiung Rapid Transit, and Siemens have organized a trail run in Central Park. There have been almost 100,000 visitors to the trail-run exhibit. The trail run will last until March 25th. For those who have not yet gone to the exhibit, please seize the opportunity to take it all in.
市府不只企圖將臨港輕軌建構為完整的市區交通路網，也期待透過巧妙細緻的規劃設計，成為觀光休閒的一部份，再配合周圍土地的開發，呈現高雄獨特的都市風貌與意象，創造人與都市的對話，更帶動城市整體發展。
全國第一條輕軌的五節車廂已在城市光廊展開免費試乘的動態展示，高雄市極力爭取的輕軌臨港環線一百卅五億元經費，經建會已列入優先辦理的民間參與計畫，並被行政院列入五年五千億計劃之中，只要立法院通過，即可進行招商興建，興建期程約四年半，其中市中一路到中華五路的路段將先行通車。
汽機車無限制的成長，帶來的空氣污染、交通壅塞、都市環境惡化等問題，不只降低生活品質，也增加社會成本，發展軌道運輸系統以減輕都市環境的負荷，成為建立優質生活環境的新考量。
目前高雄捷運系統只有紅橘兩線，不足以成為四通八達的軌道運輸路網，因此市府積極爭取興建輕軌環線。輕軌運輸系統具有快速舒適、無污染、低噪音、能源消耗較低等特性，因此又稱為「綠色運具」，是世界各大小都市改善交通擁擠及環境污染的主要利器，也是都市移動的地標。
早期輕軌運輸系統被設計在車道上，車輛型式也相當簡易。八○年代的輕軌運輸設計肩負解決城市交通問題的責任，但當時的車站大部分為低月台設計，而車輛為高底盤，因此乘客必須步上階梯才能進入車輛，對身障人士極為不便。九○年代早期是輕軌運輸設計最重要發展的時期，包括建構高月台的車站，以方便乘客上下車。現代化的輕軌運輸（ＬＲＴ）則具備高乘載量，並採用低月台、低底盤的車輛，同時考量人性化、使用環境的舒適及融入城市街景。
高雄臨港環線輕軌全長十七公里，計有卅二個車站及一座機廠，經費一百卅四億多元，可與捷運路線串連，形成更完整的網狀大眾運輸路網。
環線輕軌行經路線計有高鐵、台鐵、捷運、輕軌四鐵共構的車站特定區，學校、醫院、遊樂場所的文教醫療遊憩中心，多功能經貿園區、百貨商業購物中心、哈瑪星、愛河及柴山等觀光景點。
為讓民眾親身體驗輕軌的方便，乘著輕軌的夢想起飛，市府捷運局、高雄捷運公司及西門子公司在中央公園裡辦理輕軌動態展示，試乘人次已近十萬名，試乘活動至三月廿五日止，未試乘的民眾請把握機會。