TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Construction has begun on the Blue Line of Taichung’s Mass Rapid Transit system, with completion expected in 2034, reports said Thursday.

The Blue Line is the central Taiwan city’s second MRT route, following the Green Line, which has operated since 2021 between Beitun District and the Taichung High Speed Rail station. The city government estimates the Blue Line will cost NT$161.5 billion (US$5.55 billion), according to CNA.

The new line will stretch 24.78 kilometers, running from the port area in the west along Taiwan Boulevard, passing Taichung Railway Station, and ending in the East District. It will feature 20 stations and intersect with the Green Line at Taichung City Hall Station. Elevated sections will be engineered to withstand high winds and sea salt corrosion.

Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) said residents had waited 20 years for construction to begin and called the Blue Line the most important infrastructure project in central Taiwan for the next decade.

She added that future MRT lines should be developed concurrently rather than sequentially, noting that Taichung still lags behind Taipei in transit coverage. Planned expansions include the Orange Line, which would link the city center to Taichung International Airport, along with extensions to existing lines.