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.