The Cabinet on Thursday outlined a rail development plan aimed at cutting travel time between Kaohsiung and Taitung to about 90 minutes, with a proposed high-speed rail extension through central Kaohsiung to Pingtung forming a key part of the project.

Construction crews have begun removing underground foundation piles left from the former Zihciang Overpass in Fongshan District, as work continues on the Kaohsiung MRT Yellow Line. The city said crews will use casing equipment to cut and pull out the old piles, a method intended to reduce noise, vibration, and dust.

As of early July, the second phase of the Gangshan-Lujhu extension (岡山路竹延伸線) was 28.53% complete, 2.94 percentage points ahead of schedule. The Yellow Line was 12.71% complete, 1.64 percentage points ahead of schedule, while the Siaogang-Linyuan Line (小港林園線) was 15.43% complete, 1.9 percentage points ahead of schedule.

The rebuilt Jiuru Bridge (九如橋) is expected to open to traffic July 31, with final construction work now underway, the Kaohsiung Public Works Bureau said.

At least six major malls or landmark retail projects are expected to open in Kaohsiung over the next five years, as transport-oriented development and high-tech investment reshape the city’s commercial map, the Commercial Times reported. The new projects are expected to shift Kaohsiung’s department store market away from traditional single-district shopping areas and toward a multi-center model built around rail and MRT hubs.

The city will announce rental details on July 27, and applications will be accepted from Aug. 6 to Aug. 25. Applicants must be adult ROC citizens who either have household registration in Kaohsiung or study or work in the city. Household members must not own a home in Kaohsiung, and the average monthly income per household member must not exceed NT$59,395.

The Cijin Ferry Terminal has reopened after a renovation aimed at improving passenger flow, public facilities, and the nighttime appearance of one of Kaohsiung’s busiest tourist gateways.

The average number of registered residents per home fell to a new low of 2.77 during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting Kaohsiung’s declining population and changing household structure.

Deputy Mayor Charles Lin (林欽榮) said the project forms part of a wider effort to develop Gangshan as a northern Kaohsiung administrative and technology center, supported by MRT expansion and nearby industrial parks.

Light rail ridership exceeded 7.21 million trips during the first half of 2026, rising from 6.66 million during the same period last year, according to Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. The total was also higher than the 6.58 million passenger trips recorded during the first six months of 2024.