If you're living outside of Taipei, then you've likely made peace with your local traffic situation. If your living in Taipei you probably made that decision by factoring in your use of the MRT. It's partial de-commissioning is causing real stress for many teachers.

     Speaking with the MRT Officials today the news isn't as bad as you think. The Green Line/Yellow Line line should open within 3 months.  

     The Blue Line is expected to take the full 6 months. It is completely closed.

     For now, the Department of Transportation has set up special busses to take people between the affected stations. At the stations which are up, the MRTs are arriving every 15 - 20 minutes.  

     Ridership averaged 900,000/day before typhoon Nari. Yesterday saw 150,000 use the system.

Also, the train service island wide has been affected.

The three train lines are:

the Western Line: Taipei/Keelung - Kaohsiung/Ping Dung

the Eastern Line: Taipei/Shu Lin - Hualien/Taidong

the Southern Line: Kaohsiung - Taidong.

     The Western Line is fully operational now; the Taipei Main Station reopened today.

     The Eastern line is completely closed due to major bridge damage. One pocket of service continues, between Tou Chen and Hualien. Train officials said, due to the extent of the erosion and structural damage, it is unlikely that the Eastern Line will return to normal operations soon; this is going to complicate the upcoming Moon Festival holiday.

     The Southern Line is fully working.