TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) said Tuesday construction of the Taichung MRT Blue Line will commence on June 26. 

To celebrate the groundbreaking, the Green Line will offer free rides that day, per CNA. 

Lu said the Blue Line has been nearly two decades in the planning. With both the Blue and Green Lines, Taichung City Hall Station will become a key interchange, forming the backbone of a network that will eventually include seven MRT lines.

The Blue Line will span 24.78 km, starting at the Port of Taichung and passing through Shalu and Xitun districts before reaching the city center. The NT$161.51 billion (US$5.46 billion) line will feature 20 stations and is expected to open in 2034.

The Green Line, which began service on April 25, 2021, surpassed 50 million riders on June 9. Although the passengers before and after the milestone have been identified, the 50 millionth rider has not yet been located.

Those two nearest passengers will receive a solo economy class round-trip ticket on Starlux Airlines to any of its Asian destinations. At Tuesday’s press conference, Lu presented the prize to a woman surnamed Chiang (江), who boarded just before the milestone rider.

Chiang said she traveled from Jiude Station in Wuri District to City Hall Station and praised the MRT for improving convenience. She plans to use her ticket to visit Japan.

Lu hoped the 50 millionth rider would be found soon, so the grand prize could be awarded. The passenger used an iPass card with the number 35000104351, according to the Taichung Mass Rapid Transit Corporation.