Busway system, a no-rush project for Jakarta: Experts
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Experts warned the city administration on Thursday not to rush into implementing the new transportation busway system, which was scheduled to start in December, linking Blok M, South Jakarta, and downtown Kota, West Jakarta.
Heru Sutomo of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta revealed that implementation of the busway project needed proper preparation as the system was completely new to the public here.
"At least, the system needs one year of preparation to ensure that the public is well informed, and to improve other routes that will support the project. Otherwise, the implementation of the new system will end in chaos," said Heru.
Heru, who is also director of Gadjah Mada's Center for Transportation and Logistics Studies, said his study center had recommended that the city administration implement the new system later next year.
"Then, after two years of operation, the busway system should be evaluated. It will work effectively after seven years (of operation)," Heru asserted.
Abdul Alim Salam of the Indonesian Association of Planners concurred with Heru, criticizing the city administration for its poor planning of the new system.
"The group targeted in the pilot project is still uncertain -- whether public bus users or private car owners," said Abdul.
Abdul said that the project would prove to be ineffective in overcoming traffic congestion if its target was people in the low-income bracket as they would still choose the cheapest means of transportation, such as regular buses.
"Besides, the roads are used mostly by private cars," Abdul added. Private cars owners won't be interested in using the buses should the other supporting systems not be ready," Abdul said.
Meanwhile, head of the City Transportation Agency Rustam Effendy revealed that his agency would modify existing routes to support the new system.
"There will be new routes to support the busway project," Rustam said without further elaboration.
Rustam said his agency was determined to implement the busway project this year in a bid to improve the city's transportation system.
"There should be no further delay. What we need is to get on with the project, otherwise, we'll never start it," Rustam said.
Rustam also revealed that the same project would be implemented to serve the route from Rawamangun, East Jakarta, to Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, Central Jakarta, next year.
Rustam earlier said that the project would worsen traffic jams along the roads due to be used by the new buses, though he claimed that the situation would not last long as the situation would force private car owners to use the busway and in turn lessen the jams.
"Owners of private cars delayed by traffic jams are expected to take the new buses when they realize that they will travel fast along their special lanes," Rustam said.
The new bus system will cost Rp 54 billion, using 60 air- conditioned buses. They will serve the 12.9-kilometer route from Blok M, South Jakarta, to Kota, West Jakarta, passing along Jl. Sisingamangaraja, Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Merdeka Barat, Jl. Gajah Mada and Jl. Hayam Wuruk.
The 60 buses, each with a capacity of 54 seats, will ply the route with a headway of two minutes to six minutes.