Now or never for mass transit system<\/p>\n
By Rita A. Widiadana and Johannes Simbolon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Transportation experts say the time for the
\nJakarta municipal administration to develop a mass rapid transit
\nsystem is now, before its construction becomes much more costly.<\/p>\n
Falatehan M. Siregar Ph. D., a transportation and urban
\nplanning graduate of the University of Wisconsin in the United
\nStates, and Dr. Bambang S. Pujiyanto, a transportation
\nengineering graduate of Nihon University of Tokyo, concur that
\nthe nation's capital badly needs a mode of transportation which
\ncan carry people in great numbers in order to cope with the
\ncity's expected rapid development over the next 30 years.<\/p>\n
\"We must have that kind of transportation, if not now,
\nsometime in the future. However, any delay means more money to be
\nincurred for its construction,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
Scenarios<\/p>\n
The government announced some time ago that it would build
\nsome mode of mass transportation in Jakarta. However, so far the
\ngovernment has been unable to decide on the specific time when
\nthe construction will start, and is still busy studying the
\nvarious scenarios proposed by potential investors.<\/p>\n
Neither of the transportation experts could predict when the
\ngovernment will give the go-ahead to the construction of a mass
\nrapid transit system.<\/p>\n
\"Nevertheless, that fact that the public is talking about the
\nissue so intensively at present, as compared to five years back,
\nwhen only a few people commented on it, may give us some hint
\nthat the construction will probably start soon,\" Siregar
\npredicted.<\/p>\n
Bambang and Siregar were of the opinion that from the
\nenvironmental point of view the subway mode would be more
\nsuitable and beneficial to Jakarta than any above ground mode.
\nThe environmental benefits include the fact that a subway creates
\nno eyesore and no sound pollution because it is underground.
\nThis, they say, outweighs the considerable construction costs
\ninvolved in developing a subway.<\/p>\n
\"The consideration of environmental benefits is in fashion now
\nin Japan. For example, some people are even suggesting
\neliminating the existing above ground mass rapid transportation
\nsystems and other infrastructure, and replacing them with
\nunderground systems. That means they will spend money twice. We
\nhope not to do the same thing in Jakarta,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
Why a subway ?<\/p>\n
Siregar explained there are several alternative modes of
\ntransportation for a mass rapid transit system. Among these are
\nheavy mass rapid transit systems, such as the subway, and light
\nrapid transit systems, such as the elevated train network.<\/p>\n
The urban area defined as Greater Jakarta is spreading to
\nencompass an ever larger expanse of suburbs, Siregar said. The
\nexisting transportation system, which employs big buses,
\nminibuses, taxis and ojek motorcycle cabs cannot accommodate
\nresidents living in the border areas. Moreover, poor management,
\nlack of good service, security and punctuality have discouraged
\npeople, mostly from the middle and upper segment of society, from
\nutilizing public transportation.<\/p>\n
Instead, they use privately owned cars to reach their working
\nplaces. As a result, the number of automobiles in Jakarta rose
\nsharply from approximately 8.3 million in l989 to 10.5 million in
\nl994 (or an annual growth of 15 percent), compared to the
\nadditions to the city's streets, which expand only 4 percent
\nannually.<\/p>\n
Public transportation vehicles account for only 2.7 percent of
\nthe total number of automobiles in Jakarta. Data show that the
\ncity currently has only 9,000 buses of all sizes, 18,000 taxis,
\nand 6,000 mini vans, which transport at least 4.5 million
\ncommuters, or 57 percent of the total populace, daily.<\/p>\n
In anticipation of continued rapid growth of the population, a
\nmass rap[id transit system is a must, Siregar said.<\/p>\n
He suggested that Jakarta operate a heavy mass rapid transit
\nsystem rather than a light one, like elevated electric trains.<\/p>\n
He explained that nowhere in the world are elevated electric
\ntrains able to transport millions of passengers within a limited
\ntime. Moreover, the construction of additional railway tracks in
\nthe city's center would present a complicated problem.<\/p>\n
Cost<\/p>\n
Bambang commented that theoretically the construction of a
\nsubway is very expensive. \"But, we should not only think about
\nthe construction cost. This system has long-term direct and
\nindirect advantages.<\/p>\n
\"We should not hesitate to adopt any hi-tech system already
\nused in foreign countries although it will be more expensive,\"
\nBambang said.<\/p>\n
In term of technology, he acknowledged that Indonesians are
\nnot yet capable of constructing such a sophisticated form of
\ntransportation system.<\/p>\n
Siregar made his case for subways by setting out the costs and
\nbenefits of the system in the form of data from foreign cities,
\nincluding Singapore, Calcutta, Seoul, Sao Paulo, and San
\nFrancisco.<\/p>\n
In Singapore, the construction of a subway cost around
\nUS$112.28 million a mile in l987. In l984, Sao Paulo in Brazil
\nconstructed a subway at $154.83 million a mile (or US$356.77
\nmillion in capital cost in constant l987 dollars). Los Angeles is
\npresently expanded its subway at a cost of $284 million a mile.<\/p>\n
\"The value of a subway project depends on the area of each
\ncity. The more difficult it is, the more expensive the project
\nwill be,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
As for Jakarta, he said he could not yet estimate the cost
\nbecause the existing proposals have yet to be approved.<\/p>\n
He confirmed that the construction of a subway would take
\nyears to complete.<\/p>\n
For example, the construction of a subway from Blok M to Kota
\n-- one of the most likely routes -- has been estimated to take
\nfive years because the project would include the construction of
\ninfrastructure, such as underground stations and other
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
\"A subway is also an integrated project that involves various
\nagencies, so that any decision must be discussed at length and
\ncompromises reached first,\" he added.<\/p>",
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