Busway system, a no-rush project for Jakarta: Experts
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.