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)