Three-in-one traffic rule to be extended
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The city administration will extend the times of the three-in-one traffic policy for motorists traveling Jakarta's main thoroughfare -- from Blok M in South Jakarta to Kota in West Jakarta -- as part of the effort to alleviate traffic in the heavily congested area.
Assistant to the city secretary for development affairs Irzal Djamal said on Wednesday that the plan to extend the times from the morning rush hour until the evening would be launched simultaneously with the busway project.
With the current three-in-one system, only vehicles with three passengers can enter restricted zones, including Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Rasuna Said, Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Gatot Subroto from 6.30 a.m to 10.00 a.m.
Irzal said that the city administration plans to impose the three-in-one system until the evening rush hour, but the exact times had not been decided yet.
Irzal said that the implementation of the three-in-one policy was not effective, particularly because many motorists traveling the restricted zone hire teenagers from the side of the road to make up three passengers in the car.
"If the system was well-implemented, it would reduce traffic congestion in the restricted zone," said Irzal. He said the city administration would address the problem of three-in-one kids, but he failed to elaborate further on the plan.
So far, the three-in-one system has failed to curb the volume of traffic entering the restricted zone. If that so, then the city administration will have to impose a restriction by limiting cars according to their license plate numbers.
Irzal said cars with plate numbers ending in one or two would not be able to travel on Monday, while three and four would not be allowed on Tuesday, five and six on Wednesday, and so on. However, he said that all vehicles would be free to use the restricted zone on Saturday and Sunday.
Irzal said the city would also develop 14 new feeder roads to allow passengers from almost all directions in the city to enter the restricted zone.
The planned feeder roads are: from Bekasi to Senayan, Jati Bening to Senayan, Bandara to Kota, Kelapa Gading to Kota, Cibubur to Blok M, Depok to Blok M, Pondok Labu to Blok M, Ciputat to Blok M, Bintaro to Blok M, Ciledug to Blok M, BSD to the National Monument (Monas), Alam Sutra to Monas, Kota Modern to Monas and from Lippo Karawaci to Monas.