Adequate Public Transport Can Boost Public Welfare, Here's the Explanation
The development of public transport is considered to have a positive chain effect as it helps improve public welfare through reduced travel costs and by energising the economy at transit points. Initiatives in the regions are also being encouraged.
Regarding the effect of easing living costs, he cited the example of Jakarta residents. With the 2026 Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP) set at Rp5.7 million, residents of the capital spend an average of 25 to 30 percent of their income on transport needs.
“If we want to improve the welfare of our people, one way we can start is by providing good public transport, because that will greatly help them,” said Piter Abdullah, Policy and Program Director of the Prasasti Center for Policy Studies, in a written statement on Friday, 12 June 2026.
The 2023 Jabodetabek Commuter Statistics from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) also show that the majority of residents travelling for work (commuters) in the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi areas incur significant daily travel costs.
The details are as follows:
8.2 percent of commuters spend less than Rp5,000 on transport (or less than Rp150,000 per month)
14.7 percent of commuters spend between Rp5,000 and Rp10,000 (or Rp150,000 to Rp300,000 per month)
28.6 percent of commuters spend at least Rp25,000 (or Rp750,000 per month)
Piter continued that the use of comfortable and cheap public transport can clearly cut these travel expenses. “Reducing their travel costs is already part of improving the welfare of our people,” he said.
In terms of livelihoods, Piter Abdullah also explained that public transport will create new economic sources for residents. For example, the presence of Commuter Line (KRL) or Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations becomes new centres for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM).
“How many families will be helped? The chain effect is that their productivity becomes healthier and better,” he said.
Furthermore, Piter Abdullah underlined that this chain effect can be enjoyed in the regions, not just in Jakarta. The condition is that regional leaders must be fully committed to building public transport infrastructure. “It must start with a determination from the leadership, our regional heads,” he said.
“That to make the people happy and prosperous, there are many ways. One of them is by providing public transport that is not only comfortable and healthy, but also accessible and cheap, and that simultaneously reduces the burden they have to face,” Piter concluded.