`No trial-and-error traffic policy, please'

`No trial-and-error traffic policy, please'

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Acute transportation problems in the city can only be resolved by
means of a well-planned, comprehensive transportation system,
implemented consistently, say transportation observers.

They also say that serious traffic congestion, particularly
during peak hours in many parts of the city, are the result of
trial-and-error policies frequently introduced by the city
administration.

"If the leaders at the city administration want to resolve the
transportation problem comprehensively, they should no longer
adopt a trial-and-error approach," Tulus Abadi, from the
Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), told The Jakarta Post on
Friday.

Tulus was asked to comment on the plan of the city
administration to extend the restricted traffic zone, three-in-
one policy, to the main corridor of the busway project, along
roads from Blok M, South Jakarta, to Kota, Central Jakarta.

Tulus also queried why the city administration wished to
expand the policy from its current 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. to
another period in the evening. The policy is, at present, far
from effective, as many motorists use the services of joki, or
people who offer themselves as passengers for a small tip of
about Rp 2,000.

Transportation analyst from the University of Indonesia (UI)
Alan Marino questioned the readiness of the city administration
to provide adequate public transportation for those wishing to
leave their car at home, following implementation of the busway
system.

The plan to extend the time for the three-in-one policy was
revealed on Wednesday by assistant to the city secretary for
development affairs Irzal Djamal. A restriction would be imposed
by limiting cars according to their license plate numbers.

It is one aspect of the proposed busway project, already
delayed several times, and is expected to begin sometime this
year, in an attempt to reduce traffic congestion on major roads
such as Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin.

"If you were to ask me about the plan to extend the three-in-
one rule, I would say that I would agree with it. However, is the
busway project really ready to assume the function of cars that
will be left at home?" Alan asked the Post.

Both Alan and Tulus said that comprehensive studies should be
carried out by the city administration before any transportation
policy came into effect, as otherwise it would only add to
traffic problems here.

They expressed no objection to the busway system on condition
that the project was adequately prepared, for, in many cities in
the world, such a system was able to resolve traffic problems.

But Tulus said he remained to be convinced about the
seriousness of the city administration, particularly the
officials in charge of the project, who treated it as another
trial-and-error attempt that was not properly prepared.

Tulus suspected that many officials perceived the project as a
source of additional income, instead of as a way of addressing
the city's transportation problems.

The city administration planned to operate 60 buses along a
12.5-kilometer special busway track, from Blok M to Kota, late
last year, but the launch was delayed due to inadequate
preparation.

Early this year, the tryout was implemented with two buses
traveling along the lanes, without passengers. Currently, no
information is available about when the project will become fully
operational.