Transportation body proposed
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The establishment of the Greater Jakarta megapolitan transportation authority will be the starting point to integrate the transportation systems of all autonomous regions of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Bekasi and Tangerang, a study says.
The authority will have the power to control the planning and implementation of the integrated transportation system, which is the key to the joint effort of the regions in resolving the multitude of transportation problems in the capital and its surrounding areas.
"The authority will facilitate the existing difficulties in coordination among the various administrations," said Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) team leader Tomokazu Wachi on Thursday at a seminar on transportation.
The one-day seminar was held to present a result of a study on the integrated transportation Master Plan for Greater Jakarta being conducted by JICA and the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas).
The massive traffic jams during peak hours have been worsening, and JICA says the economic loss caused by the congestion now amounts to Rp 5.5 trillion (US$647 million) annually.
JICA also estimates that the cumulative economic losses up to 2020 is estimated to reach Rp 70.3 trillion, if no significant efforts are made to resolve the chronic transportation problems.
Wachi said the scope of the transportation authority's responsibilities included infrastructure development of mass rapid transport, bus project development, traffic control and inter-city/regency road development and maintenance.
He pointed to the Metro Manila Development Authority in the Philippines and the Metro Oregon in the United States as authority models that could be applied to Greater Jakarta.
The study is identifying possible policies to be taken by the authority to develop a sustainable transportation system in Greater Jakarta, which will focus on encouraging residents to use public transportation.
The disparity between the number of private cars and public vehicles also has a great impact on the traffic problems in Greater Jakarta.
The proposal to set up the Jakarta megapolitan transportation authority has received the support of Soni Sumarsono, director of regional development integration at the home ministry, who said that without such an institution it was unlikely that Greater Jakarta could be integrated successfully.
Soni said the transportation authority had three conditions: first, it should be given full authority to establish the system and to act as a regulatory body.
Second, it must receive a mandate from all administrations of the affected regions and their legislative councils.
Third, all administrations must fully support the authority, as it will proceed according to their mutual interests.
Soni stressed the need for an integrated transportation system in Greater Jakarta, as it is expected to streamline the transportation system in the region, which is the fastest developing region in the country.
Bambang Brodjonegoro, a transportation expert from the University of Indonesia (UI), also supported the proposal to set up the authority, emphasizing the need for total commitment from local administrations.
"Local administrations, each of which already have a master plan on transportation, must be willing to change these to accommodate the integrated transportation system," he said.