Big plans for Jakarta transportation

Big plans for Jakarta transportation

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso submitted a draft bylaw here on
Thursday to the City Council, which regulates the city's overall
transportation system.

If passed, it would become the first-ever legal basis for the
city administration to outline its overall transportation system
plan in the capital, which comprises land and water
transportation.

Explaining the draft, Rustam Effendi, who heads the City
Transportation Agency, said river transportation will be part of
the alternative routes to be developed in order to ease the
traffic congestion in Jakarta.

He gave no details about the river transportation routes,
which were not explicitly stipulated in the draft bylaw, a copy
of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post.

Nor does it clearly mention the controversial plans for a
rapid transit bus system (BRT), the planned busway project or the
possible monorail system, all of which are being developed or
being planned by the city administration.

Rustam said the two bus system and monorail projects would be
part of the land transportation system as stated in the draft
bylaw.

"The busway which is being developed by the city will only be
a small part of the city's whole transportation system," he told
journalists after attending a plenary meeting on Thursday.

The draft bylaw also recommends the establishment of two new
transportation agencies: the Land Road Public Transportation Body
(LRPTB) and the City Transportation Council (CTC).

Under the draft bylaw, the LRPTB will be tasked with
implementing the city administration policy, while the CTC will
function as a group to accommodate people's aspirations about
transportation affairs.

CTC members will consist of councillors, government officials,
universities, public transport operators, non-governmental
organizations and transport users.

However, the draft bylaw does not detail the authority of the
two new agencies. Rustam said this matter would be regulated in
gubernatorial decrees.

Based on the draft bylaw, the city administration will also
take part in the management of the railways which are currently
under the control of the central government.

It gives strong emphasis on the land transportation system and
divides fixed routes for public transportation vehicles into four
categories.

First, the main routes will only be served by large buses,
which will only be able to drive on the frontage roads.

Second, the branch routes will be served by medium-sized buses
that will pass the collector roads. The buses which serve the two
routes will only stop at designated bus shelters.

Third, twig routes will be served by small buses that will
take passengers in residential areas. They will serve as feeder
buses for the larger ones.

Another category is direct routes serving residential areas to
final destinations, which will be served by big buses.

Other issues stated in the draft bylaw include plans to limit
the years that vehicle are in service, to issue certificates for
public vehicles, and to involve the private sector in railway
transportation.

Under the bylaw, special facilities will be provided for
disabled commuters, and the laws will be enforced against traffic
violators.