Another busway corridor<\/p>\n
The Jakarta administration's decision to set up another busway
\ncorridor, from Pulo Gadung in East Jakarta to Kalideres in West
\nJakarta via Monas in Central Jakarta, has drawn various
\nreactions.<\/p>\n
Some people are of the view that the plan to construct the new
\nbusway route deserves support. Others, however, say that the
\nproblems with the existing route from Blok M to Kota should be
\ndealt with first before expanding the system.<\/p>\n
Those who support the idea -- the city officials among them --
\nbelieve that the busway system will help ease the traffic along
\nthose routes. The system is faster than any other means of public
\ntransport available at present, so the city needs more busway
\ncorridors, especially for routes that are severely congested, so
\nthey argue.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, those who do not agree with the expansion
\nof the system argue that the problems brought about by the
\nexisting busway infrastructure have yet to be dealt with
\nproperly.<\/p>\n
The routes to and from Pulo Gadung and Kalideres are congested
\neach day, and -- considering the Blok M - Kota experience -- the
\nskeptics fear that the new busway corridor will cause new
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
According to Bambang Susanto, the secretary-general of the
\nSustainable Transport Action Network for Asia-Pacific, there are
\nseveral problems relating to safety and security, reliability and
\naffordability of the transJakarta bus system that need to be
\nassessed before more are built.<\/p>\n
Security and punctuality are the most important factors that
\ncan persuade people to keep commuting on the new buses.<\/p>\n
It is interesting to recall Governor Sutiyoso's remark that
\nthe busway would not solve the city's chaotic traffic jams. The
\ngovernor has also said that the busway system would put the
\nadministration's reputation at stake.<\/p>\n
But those among us who have lived in Jakarta since the 1970s
\nwill readily acknowledge that traffic was already chaotic even
\nthen. However, things have grown worse over the past couple of
\ndecades, in step with the rapidly increasing number of vehicles,
\na fact that neither the central government nor the Jakarta
\nprovincial administration seem to be able to contain.<\/p>\n
The increases in population, which have led to the decrease of
\nspace available for the building of new roads, is another serious
\nproblem. Unfortunately, law enforcement has been very weak.<\/p>\n
The phenomenal increase in the number of private cars in
\nrecent years could be seen as an accomplishment by the car
\nretailers in their bid to fulfill the people's demand for
\nindependent and safe transportation. Prestige is another reason
\npeople prefer private cars.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso has acknowledged that the increased use of private
\ncars is a reflection of the public's pressing need for a public
\ntransportation network that meets the minimal standards of
\ncleanliness, comfort and safety.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, while waiting for the most appropriate mode
\nof public transportation to be put in place for the capital
\ncity's more than nine million people, the busway system can be
\nconsidered a breakthrough.<\/p>\n
Everybody agrees that Jakarta desperately needs a mass rapid
\ntransit system. Unfortunately, nobody seems to be able to
\ndetermine what kind of system would be the most appropriate for
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The city administration is facing many constraints, especially
\nthose of a financial or socio-cultural nature, and it does not
\nhave the money to do what needs to be done. Besides, it is not
\neasy to find space for the construction of infrastructure such as
\nis needed for a subway or an overhead monorail system.<\/p>\n
But whatever people may say, it seems that the city
\nadministration is determined that the 33 kilometers of new busway
\ncorridors must begin construction next month and become
\noperational by April 2005.<\/p>\n
The expansion of the busway system reflects the
\nadministration's serious efforts to solve one aspect of Jakarta's
\ntraffic problems, but its record of tackling the core problems
\nremains poor.<\/p>\n
At least Rp 600 billion (about US$67.4 million) is needed for
\nthe new busway corridor project. That amount includes the
\npurchase of 187 buses.<\/p>\n
As it is a giant project involving a huge amount of money,
\ntransparence in the drawing up of business plans that involve the
\nprivate sector is a must. To eliminate or, at the every least,
\nreduce the possibility of malfeasance, open and fair bidding for
\nthe project is imperative.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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