Taking place on 3-4 March at the Steigenberger Wiltcher’s in Brussels, Belgium, the 23rd annual Road User Charging Conference will explore the latest advancements in user-financed transportation.

The prestigious two-day event gathers industry leaders, policymakers and innovators from around the world.

It serves as a vital forum for discussions, knowledge exchange and peer learning on best practices for planning, financing, implementing, operating and maintaining tolling, road usage charging and mobility pricing schemes across motorways, highways and urban areas.

One of the experts confirmed to speak at the event is Dr. Shih-Ming You, a counsellor at the Taipei City Government.

You has previously served as the director-general of Taipei’s Department of Finance, deputy director-general of National Property Administration, Ministry of Finance (MOF) and section chief for the Department of Land Administration, Ministry of the Interior (MOI).

You is in charge of application for 2029 ITS world congress and successfully won the hosting right for Taipei city and is one of the speakers for 2025 ITS world congress in Georgia.

He also lectures regularly at National Chengchi University (NCCU) for international property use and valuation topics, implement theory into practice.

At this year’s conference, You will discuss how to further ETC experience to future distance-based RUC feasibility in Taiwan, focusing on fuel use to road maintenance fee and how to balance of decarbonisation and equity.

Name: Shih-Ming You

Job Role: Counsellor

Organisation: Taipei City Government 

What is the best aspect of your job?
I once served as deputy secretary-general, to overseeing the city government's transportation, MRT, finance, accounting, industry development, civil affairs, environmental protection, water supply, reservoirs, legal affairs, military service, and land administration, etc. With my background in the central government's Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Finance, I can promote relevant policies from an overall level. 

What is the most pressing challenge for user-financed transportation in 2026? 
With my background as director of the Department of Finance, I understand the importance of financial support in promoting policies. Although Taiwan's expressways have completed full electronic toll collection, general road use is only reflected in the collection of the fuel fee, which is still some distance away from the true RUC spirit. 

What is your best piece of advice for those implementing user-financed transport schemes? 
Roads are the most important infrastructure that provides people with daily access for work, life, travel, and other purposes. Just like blood vessels in the human body require good nutrients, implementing RUC in road construction and maintenance can provide a safe and sustainable driving environment.

Does legislation support or hinder innovation in this sector?
Article 21 of Taiwan’s Highway Act stipulates that a highway may charge fees from passing public or private institutions that construct dedicated highways and concurrently operate highway operators approved by the highway authority may collect tolls from vehicles passing through such dedicated highways. While Article 27 stipulates that highway authorities may levy vehicle fuel usage fees to fund highway maintenance, construction, and safety management. An Office of the President order dated 19 December 2025, published in the Executive Yuan Gazette on 22 December 2025, confirms amendments to multiple articles of the Highway Act including provisions tied to the long-running “automobile fuel use fee” framework. The revised Article 27 replaces the fuel-specific language with a broader road-use framing, stating that highway authorities may levy a “highway usage, maintenance and safety management fee” to fund highway maintenance, construction and safety management. 

How will user-financed transport schemes evolve by 2030? 
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has a vision of “people-oriented transportation” and prioritises “safety, efficiency, quality, and green” as the guiding principles of its sustainable development blueprint. By 2030, all city buses will be fully electrified. While the ETC project has reached a 95% eTag installation rate, the MOTC will continue to address the remaining 5% of users who have not yet installed the eTag and the outstanding ETC fees, thereby ensuring user-financed transportation.

Why are you looking forward to speaking at Road User Charging Conference Europe 2026? 
RUC is a very important concept in road provision and user payment in various countries. I am looking forward to sharing the following topics: 

• Taipei city government key strategies and legislation to meet 2050 Net Zero goals in terms of transport sectors for the Decarbonisation & Sustainability. 

• Revenue & funding stability to support all EV buses by 2030 and other vehicles by 2050. 

• From the success experience of Electronic Tolling Collection system on freeway to legislative reform incorporating the non-fuel vehicles into road maintenance fee in Taiwan based on equity & public acceptance. 

• Case study of PPP model for more EV charging station and the total cost of ownership (TCO) between EV and fuel vehicle.  

In addition to sharing Taiwan's experience, the seminar will also be an opportunity to discover the concepts of RUC from experts around the world. With the help of Intelligent transportation systems, we can achieve a safer, fairer, and more efficient driving environment, which is very anticipating for everyone to attend the RUC conference together.