City transportation system need compete overhaul

City transportation system need compete overhaul

D. A. Simarmata, School of Economics, University of Indonesia, Jakarta

Jakarta is known for its chronic traffic congestion. Even
though it is still less severe than Bangkok, it is much worse
than our city state neighbor, Singapore. Considering the low
level of motorization, the congestion level and its wide
dispersion throughout the city is comparatively very high. One of
the sources of traffic congestion is the malfunction of the
public transportation system. Some years ago there was a plan for
the construction of a mass rapid transit (MRT) in the form of
subways, but the cost was beyond reach, leading to its
postponement.

The demand for urban public transportation has since only
increased, urging the people and institutions responsible to seek
a solution or an alternative. The probable one in sight is the
adoption of a bus-way or bus based system, or the eventual
upgrading to a light rapid transit system (LRT).

The present transportation system in Jakarta consists of the
rail and bus system. The bus system is in a chaotic state,
without any inherent regularity of operation. The problem is
further exacerbated by the presence of angkot (public minivans),
which leads to an inefficient system.

Public transportation in the city is not part of an integrated
system, as characteristic of cities in industrialized countries.
The most visible characteristic of its disintegration is in the
terminal system, and at the points of passenger transfer from one
bus line to another.

Further, there is no fixed and reliable schedule within the
bus system, let alone a coordinated schedule within and between
the bus system and the rail system. The rail system is limited in
spatial coverage, in a simple straight line service, not in a
form of a branching network or a grid. And last but not least,
the main deficiency in the public transportation system in
Jakarta is in its pricing system.

Much waste in congested streets, psychological stress, and air
pollution could be substantially reduced by the wide use of the
public transportation. Hence, passengers would be relieved of
inconvenience and the costly transfer from one bus to another
during short distance travels. This would be achieved by the
implementation of a valid bus or a train ticket for a period of
time, namely for an hour or more. The successful application of
the system would need, however, an integration of the whole urban
transport system.

The present system in Jakarta is inappropriate for that
purpose, primarily due to the absence of the ticket system. The
ticket system is certainly difficult if not impossible to be
employed using the minivan system. The minivan system operates in
competition and is not complementary with the larger bus system.
This has been one of the sources of the chaotic state of our
public transportation.

The wage system of the public transportation drivers is
generally not based on a fixed monthly salary but on a kind of a
piece-rate system, except for the state-run city busy company
(PPD). The minivan system is mostly owner-operated, and not
managed by a company, adding to the complication of the wage
system in public transportation. Except for the owner-operated
buses and the PPD, the driver has to submit an agreed sum of
money per day, known as setoran. to the bus company. Anything
earned over and above that amount is for the bus driver and for
other operational expenses.

The bus drivers have firstly to pay the daily fee to the bus
company, then find additional money for themselves and for
operational expenses, including bribes for traffic police, and
other illegal and unofficial levies paid to street gangs. To
reach their target income, they often violate traffic regulations
if by doing so they could get more passengers. Therefore, one of
the reasons for traffic violations by the public transportation
drivers lies in the wage system, which needs review.

The Jakarta administration's plan to implement a bus-way
transportation system should be preceded by an overall review or
evaluation of the whole transport system, to look into its
operational integration, both in schedule and pricing and the
efficiency of the whole bus system.

The efficiency of the bus transportation system has to be
improved, and the government has to prepare an alternative plan
for the excessive number of small owner-operated buses, by
finding them work in a similar or substitute occupation.

The present provision of a public transport system with a
variety of services has to be maintained and further extended in
spatial coverage. Such a move would encourage the traveler to
switch from private cars to public transportation. But the
officials must be aware that the safety and convenience of travel
has to be guaranteed, which is the responsibility of the police
and the Jakarta administration.

In several cities in Europe public transportation is
considered a basic human right, because of the absolute necessity
to go to work by motorized vehicles.

Therefore public transportation is regarded as a public
service. Urban public transportation is heavily subsidized, lying
in the range of 60 percent to 70 percent of the total operational
costs. This is also true for the United States, a guardian of the
free market economy.

Thus, there should be a total rethinking of the public
transportation philosophy of Jakarta, especially when the price
of gasoline is being gradually raised to the international level.
The huge income of the Jakarta government should be sufficient
for the implementation of a subsidized urban public
transportation system in Jakarta and even for other
agglomerations of Indonesia.

This is the right time for that overhaul.