Transportation body proposed

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.