According to recent reporting, there are estimates that by 2051, daily passenger volume at the future HSR Pingtung station could exceed 7,000, with peak-hour traffic approaching 900 passengers. Supporters say the project would improve access to Pingtung and support wider development around the future station. But the latest traffic projections show that the benefits of high-speed rail will depend not only on the rail line itself, but also on whether local roads and connecting transport can keep pace.

The bridge began as a temporary railway bridge built in 2009 during Kaohsiung’s railway undergrounding project. After trains were moved underground in 2018, the tracks and overhead wires were removed, and the structure was converted into a riverside landscape bridge in 2021. Its planned removal now shows how the THSR extension is not just a regional transportation project, but a major urban construction challenge for Kaohsiung.

City Government launches public urban renewal project in Zuoying District’s Guomao area (左營果貿), with plans to attract NT$14.6 billion in investment and build five buildings.

The group said self-driving vehicles are unlikely to replace a city’s main public transportation network, but could improve first- and last-mile connections. It said city agencies would need to coordinate over the next two years on how robotaxis could serve major transit and tourism hubs, including the airport, harbor, rail stations, and visitor destinations.

The Kaohsiung City Public Works Bureau (高雄市工務局) opened applications for the second phase of its Building Vertical Greenery and Green Roof Subsidy Project (建築物立體綠化及綠屋頂補助計畫) on June 1, 2026. The application window will remain open until June 22, 2026, offering a maximum subsidy of NT$800,000 per project to encourage public participation in urban cooling and carbon reduction initiatives.

The upgraded water play area at Starlight Riverside Park (星光水岸公園) in Kaohsiung’s Asia New Bay Area (亞洲新灣區) will officially open May 30, with new facilities including water slides, aquatic play equipment, and harbor-view swings.

The center said the project includes studios, two-bedroom units, and three-bedroom units. Online applications are open through June 22, with a public lottery scheduled for Sept. 17. The earliest move-in date is expected to be Dec. 1.

The NT$177 million project will add dedicated bicycle lanes, more greenery, and improved shade, with completion expected by the middle of next year, according to the city’s Public Works Bureau.

The Kaohsiung Fans social media page claimed the revived hotel is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2026, with Le Méridien 85 Sky Tower set to occupy the upper section of the landmark tower.

The city said additional pedestrian-environment improvement projects are also underway nearby on Jiouru 1st Road (九如一路) in Sanmin District (三民區) and Wumiao Road (武廟路) in Lingya District.