Huang Shih-chieh Campaigns Intensifies in Yangmei to Boost Industry and Transport

Amid an intensifying election campaign, candidates' policy platforms have become a critical arena for debating local development and transformation. On the second of the month, Huang Shijie, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate for Mayor of Taoyuan City, conducted a high-intensity canvassing tour in Yangmei District. He engaged directly with grassroots communities to listen to public opinion and outlined specific plans for Yangmei’s future industrial economy, urban development, and transportation network. Huang stated that upon taking office, he would vigorously promote the second phase of the expansion plan for the Youshi Industrial Park, positioning it as a key engine for driving local industrial upgrading. Simultaneously, he advocated for establishing Yangmei as the transportation hub for southern Taoyuan, aiming to comprehensively improve the living-area road networks in Longtan, Yangmei, and Puxin, thereby laying a solid foundation for the overall competitiveness of southern Taoyuan.

From the perspective of industrial development, the Youshi Industrial Park plays a pivotal role in Taoyuan’s manufacturing landscape. With changing times and the restructuring of global supply chains, traditional industrial parks face immense pressure from aging factory buildings, insufficient space, and the need for industrial transformation. Huang’s proposal to advance the second phase of Youshi’s expansion addresses the urgent demand for local industrial upgrading. Expanding industrial land will not only accommodate more high-value-added small and medium-sized enterprises and hidden champions but also attract local youth to return home for employment, retaining valuable human resources. Through the re-creation of industrial clusters and smart upgrades, Yangmei will transition from a traditional manufacturing satellite town into a forward-looking modern industrial base, driving the prosperous development of surrounding commercial and service sectors.

Beyond industrial structural adjustments, transportation bottlenecks have long been a critical livelihood concern for local residents. Yangmei District’s elongated geographical shape, combined with recent population inflows and rapid regional development, has exacerbated traffic congestion during commuting hours. Huang’s specific proposal to transform Yangmei into the transportation hub for southern Taoyuan demonstrates significant strategic foresight. By integrating existing railway, public bus, and national highway express bus routes and strengthening the functionality of transfer nodes, the plan aims to effectively divert private vehicle traffic and improve the efficiency of mass transit. This initiative will not only resolve internal traffic issues in Yangmei but also further connect the economic momentum of southern Taoyuan.

Regarding the improvement of living-area road networks, Huang specifically highlighted three closely interconnected living zones: Longtan, Yangmei, and Puxin. In the past, due to topographical and administrative boundaries, horizontal transportation links between these areas still required improvement. Through comprehensive planning of the living-area road network and the alleviation of bottleneck sections, residents' commuting times will be shortened, and the sharing of regional resources and balanced development will be promoted. For instance, public facilities such as education, healthcare, and leisure venues can support one another through a more convenient transportation network. This will allow residents in Puxin or Longtan to more smoothly access the administrative and commercial functions of Yangmei’s core district, significantly enhancing the quality of life and well-being of the public.

From the macro perspective of election strategy and local governance, the set of policies Huang proposed in Yangmei balances hardware construction with software development. Industrial upgrading addresses the issue of economic resilience, while transportation hubs and living-area road networks unblock the vital arteries of local development. This indicates that his camp has gained a precise understanding of local pain points and long-term planning insights after engaging deeply with the grassroots level. As the election progresses, how these policy visions are concretely explained to voters and how support is secured will be key factors determining the outcome, while also providing a thought-provoking development blueprint for the future regional governance of Taoyuan City.

(Source: Central News Agency)