Environment and mass transit interlink<\/p>\n
By Dr. Bambang S. Pujantiyo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In selecting and determining a type of mass
\npublic transportation, there is much to be considered. But the
\nmost important matter is selecting which type has the biggest
\npositive impact and the smallest negative impact. The direct
\nimpacts are those such as time and cost for users of mass public
\ntransportation, and the indirect impacts are those such as
\neconomic ones. Social and environmental improvements and so forth
\nare later impacts, occurring after the construction of such
\ninfrastructure. Meanwhile, the environmental impact itself has
\nmany factors, factors which cannot be ignored in the science of
\ntransportation. These factors are so important that they recently
\nbecame a determining factor in selecting the type of mass public
\ntransportation in big cities all over the world.<\/p>\n
With this basic environmental knowledge, as a transport
\nplanner, it is important to know the relationship between
\nenvironmental impact and the selection of the type of mass
\ntransportation to be applied in big cities of developing
\ncountries, such as in the city of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Mass transit<\/p>\n
Mass public transportation is a means of transportation for
\nthe public which can convey a large number of passengers. Based
\non the location of its operation, it can be categorized into
\nland, sea, and air public transportation. However, land public
\ntransportation, up to now, is the means of transportation which
\ncauses many problems and discussions among researchers.<\/p>\n
Nowadays, there are many types of land mass transportation.
\nThe author of Urban Public Transport, Amano, categorized land
\nmass transportation based on transport capacity. The transport
\ncapacity of electric trains both on and under the ground is
\nestimated to be able to transport 40,000 people per hour.
\nMonorail, light rail, tram, etc., can transport up to 10,000
\npassengers per hour. Big buses, such as we see in Jakarta, can
\ntransport up to 2,000 passengers per hour. Thus, the largest
\ntransport capacity of all these means of transportation is the
\ntrain which can be categorized into two types, that is, trains
\nwhich operate on the ground and underground trains.<\/p>\n
Environment<\/p>\n
The negative impact on the environment, that is, air and noise
\npollution where one of its main causes is the motor vehicle,
\nrecently became a serious problem. A tremendous amount of exhaust
\nor noise emitted from a vehicle can cause many health problems
\nfor the people in its vicinity.<\/p>\n
As stated by Nakamura in his book Urban and Environmental,
\npollution is mainly caused by diesel powered vehicles and affects
\npeople's health. Therefore, to deal with this pollution,
\nresearchers and manufacturers of motor vehicles, such as those in
\nJapan, have been directed by their governments to lower air and
\nnoise pollution emitted by motor vehicles. This effort has been
\nfruitful, with the release of vehicles with a lower pollution
\nrate, even vehicles with no pollution at all, such as battery or
\nsolar cars which are now close to full operation. But, to date, a
\ndrastic reduction of pollution from diesel vehicles is still
\nunlikely. Hence, a policy to increase the means of land public
\ntransportation such as diesel buses, seems to be in direction
\nconflict with the criteria of overcoming air and noise pollution.<\/p>\n
Complimenting the surrounding area is also a determining
\nfactor in selecting types of public transportation. In
\nconsideration of nature, harmony and beauty between modern
\ntechnology and the surrounds would be required. Although the
\neconomic development of one country is so fast, policies in the
\nplanting of trees and establishment of gardens in big cities
\nshould not be forgotten. Thus, in the implementation of
\ninfrastructure construction for mass public transportation, it is
\nexpected that trees and gardens should not be destroyed, but
\nshould be increased.<\/p>\n
Social Cost<\/p>\n
If the environmental impacts are calculated into social costs,
\nsuch as medical care necessary because of illnesses caused by air
\nand noise pollution, it can be imagined how much the social cost
\nwill be. Research on social cost caused by environmental effects
\nhave been presented many times, such as in a paper written by Pu
\njantiyo entitled A Study on Social Cost by Road Environment,
\nwhich describes how much loss is suffered by people living along
\nthe roads in an area of Chiba Perfecture in Japan because of the
\neffects of air and noise pollution from motor vehicles. This loss
\nis calculated into a social cost. Hence, to avoid the increase of
\nsocial costs, a policy of railway construction or development
\nboth on or under the ground can be assumed as an appropriate
\nselection.<\/p>\n
However, the above mentioned are also added to social costs
\nbecause of the destruction of the surroundings. The research on
\nsocial cost due to the destruction of surroundings' visual
\nappearances have not been presented. Such social cost has
\nactually happened, as for instance, the problems which have just
\noccurred in Japan with the estimated high cost of changing the
\npresent electricity service to an underground electric conductor
\nsystem. This is one of the policies of recovering the appearance
\nof surroundings in big cities in Japan.<\/p>\n
By studying such cases, it can be imagined if it is one day
\nmade compulsory to calculate the cost of changing mass public
\ntransportation infrastructure to underground systems. Therefore,
\nby assessing carefully the science, the development, and the
\nenvironmental problems which exist on the basic science of
\ntransportation, initially establishing an underground system
\nseems preferable.<\/p>\n
Subway<\/p>\n
It can be said that an underground train, also called a subway
\nand which generally can transport a large number of passengers,
\nalmost causes no air and noise pollution, and moreover does not
\ndestroy the view above ground. Thus, its selection as the type of
\nmeans of mass public transportation is viewed as very suitable.
\nTherefore, a subway is viewed as the solution in overcoming
\ntransportation problems in big cities such as Jakarta, from the
\nview point of transportation and also for the benefit of many
\npeople. Environment is one of the important factors in
\ndetermining policies, especially in selecting technology to
\novercome transportation problems.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the construction of a subway would
\nobviously involve a very high cost compared to that of above
\nground transportation, or of another means of transportation.
\nThis is caused by its structure which is underground where ground
\nconditions might be poor, so that special technology in its
\nconstruction will be required, which will clearly have a high
\ncost. But such a high cost is not considered high if compared to
\nthe otherwise environmental impact and social cost.<\/p>\n
However, operating a subway as a solution to the present
\ntransportation problem does not mean having no more problems. For
\nexample, from an engineering perspective, concerns of how sturdy
\nthe whole construction system would be in facing natural
\ndisasters are a factor.<\/p>\n
With these matters, it is appropriate and preferable to study
\nand analyze first its sciences as a basis to avoid the failures
\nwhich happened in advanced countries, and to learn from their
\ncases.<\/p>\n
In selecting modern technology, whether as planner or in
\nmanaging mass transportation, with this knowledge and experience
\non environmental impacts, we should not be trapped with only an
\napplication of modern technology from advanced countries, but
\nshould also learn first about its impacts, especially
\nenvironmental impacts, to be able to utilize modern technology to
\nsuch a stage that it can be used for the benefit of science and
\nthe benefit of the people, especially those in developing
\ncountries.<\/p>",
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