Stickers proposed to replace 3-in-one system
Stickers proposed to replace 3-in-one system
JAKARTA (JP): City council urged yesterday for the city administration to replace its three-in-one traffic policy, currently applied to the city's major thoroughfares, with a sticker system.
H. Helmy AR. Syihab, chairman of Commission C, which is responsible for financial affairs, told reporters that it is time for the city administration to replace the policy because its implementation deviates from its original objective.
The existing three-in-one traffic policy, which has been in operation since 1992, under Gubernatorial Decree No. 613/1992, is effective in reducing traffic jams in certain areas, he said, but on the other hand it produces new a headache: traffic congestion on roads leading to the three-in-one zone.
Traffic congestion on these roads is caused mainly by the operation of many passengers-for-hire, who offer passing motorists, intending to enter the three-in-one zone, a ride for a fare, he said.
Under the policy, the three-in-one zone, covering Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Gatot Subroto, is prohibited for private cars with less than three occupants, between 6:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. on working days.
Motorists, whose cars carry less than three people, usually pick up passengers-for-hire to enable them to enter the restricted area and pay Rp 1,000 per person, per trip. After receiving payment, the passengers-for-hire return to their initial spot and wait for other passing vehicles with less than three passengers.
Helmy said that under the sticker system, motorists just buy stickers on a monthly basis from the city administration, at Rp 25,000 per car.
"Regardless of the number of passengers, any car which displays the sticker is allowed to enter the restricted zone," he said, adding that cars which do not have the sticker will be ticketed.
He expressed confidence that the sticker system is far more effective than the three-in-one policy because besides helping wipe out passengers-for-hire, which causes traffic jams, it also enable the city administration to increase its revenue.
Many raids against these passengers-for-hire have been made but have not been effective. The passengers-for-hire start operating as soon as police officers end their raids.
"The revenue which can be collected from this system can be earmarked to repair existing roads and expand the road network," he added.
Helmy also said that to implement the sticker system, the city administration has to formulate a new regional regulation, to give it legal basis.
He assured that the implementation of the sticker system is viable due to the improving welfare on the part of the motorists.
The collection of funds from the stickers will also enable the city administration to handle its road network, which currently expands at a rate of only four percent a year, he said.
By comparison the number vehicles in the city grows by 14 percent annually, he added. (31)