The practice of "build, operate and transfer," otherwise known as "BOT," is a widely accepted procedure to allow private enterprises to carry out all or part of state-planned public works that permits private investment building and long-term operation of transportation or other infrastructure projects before an eventual transfer to public ownership. Seen in the 1990s as an ideal means to promote domestic and foreign private investment in costly transportation projects, almost all BOT projects carried out in Taiwan have experienced grave fiscal and management projects. Join discussion...

The Kaohsiung Metro, which opened service on March 9 last year, may soon follow in the footsteps of the Taiwan High Speed Railroad's bullet train system. Both are BOT (build-operate-transfer) projects, albeit Kaohsiung Metro is much smaller in scale. Join discussion...

The California High-Speed Rail Authority projects that it will need about 33 billion in 2008 dollars to complete its initial San Francisco-Anaheim link, a reasonable estimate considering the cost of peer systems. In addition to the $9 billion in state funds devoted to the project by last November’s referendum, the Authority is banking on $2-3 billion in local money and $12-16 billion in federal contributions. Because this aid won’t be enough to cover the full costs of the line, the state will also demand $6.5-7.5 billion in help from public/private partnerships. In other words, the Authority is hoping it can raise 20% of construction costs with the help of corporate interests that would be able to benefit from some of the line’s operating profit. Join discussion...

The government will not take over the financially troubled high-speed rail system, Transportation Minister Mao Chi-kuo said Monday. The statement came amid growing rumors that High-Speed Rail Corporation Chairwoman Nita Ing would announce her resignation at a board meeting scheduled for Tuesday and be replaced by chief executive officer Ou Chin-der, a confidant of President Ma Ying-jeou. The meeting was supposed to select a date in late September or early October for an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. Join discussion...

Chiu Ta-jan, director of Taipei City’s Department of Finance, said the Birdie Group was investing NT$9.1 billion (US$276.6 million) in the Guangci BOT project to construct a building complex with a total floor space of 141,900 square meters. This will include a nursing home and centers for the physically and mentally challenged, as well as long-term care of the elderly. In addition, the plan features community residences, a hotel, office buildings and shopping mall. Join discussion...

A record number of firms from the U.K.’s infrastructure sectors are set to participate in the Taiwan Britain Business Council’s 11th joint annual meeting June 9 in Taipei. According to the British Trade and Cultural Office in Taiwan, the opportunity to access potential profits stemming from the “i-Taiwan 12 projects” and cross-strait economic and trade opening saw an all-time high of nearly 50 architecture and infrastructure construction companies sign up for this year’s event. Join discussion...

Kaohsiung, June 2 (CNA) The Kaohsiung city government is planning two more lines for its mass rapid transit system, even though the system suffered a massive loss of NT$2.2 billion last year, a city government official said Tuesday. The Department of Rapid Transit official said that in order to build the system into a comprehensive public transport network, the department is planning yellow and brown lines, which will pass through bustling business, leisure and scenic districts in the city to end at Chengching Lake in Kaohsiung County. Join discussion...

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Chang Chiu-chun, vice minister of transportation and communications, denied yesterday the government will take over the High Speed Rail Corporation, which offers Taiwan's bullet train service. Join discussion...

Lawmakers of opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday boycotted the screening of the draft amendments to the statute governing private investment in public construction, to express their strong opposition to opening the BOT (build-operate-transfer) projects to mainland Chinese investors. The draft amendments, raised by the Cabinet-level Public Construction Commission (PCC), were up for screening by the transportation committee of the Legislative Yuan. Join discussion...

The Kaohsiung City government will call for another round of bidding beginning May 11 for the construction of a light rail system to complement its mass rapid transit (MRT) system, a city official announced Thursday. The city MRT bureau, which is in charge of the project - the first light rail project in Taiwan - did not give an explanation on why the tender period, which originally was supposed to end in May, has been extended. Join discussion...