Transportation projects 'won't fix traffic problems'
JAKARTA (JP): The numerous transportation projects undertaken by the city administration will not solve Jakarta's traffic problems, a transportation observer said on Monday.
"The administration plans to build a bus terminal. But if it is aimed at solving the traffic jams in Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta, then it's not going to be effective," Suyono Dikun, the chairman of the Indonesian Transportation Society, told The Jakarta Post.
He was referring to the city administration's plan to construct a bus terminal in Pulo Gebang, East Jakarta, to replace the overcrowded terminal in Pulo Gadung.
The administration has also planned to build a subway linking Blok M in South Jakarta with Kota downtown area in West Jakarta. Other projects under consideration include the development of several toll roads and a three-tiered system.
He said he regretted that a feasibility study was not done on the bus terminal as there may be problems in the future, such as traffic jams, criminals, street vendors and hoodlums.
He said the city administration should have developed a public transportation system before embarking on the development of a transportation infrastructure.
He suggested that the administration develop mass rapid transportation (MRT) instead and noted the need to improve the electrical trains.
"People need public transportation that can accommodate a large number of passengers," Suyono remarked, adding that this type of transportation would ease traffic jams.
Unlike the MRT, bus terminals create traffic jams as public buses entering them wait there for passengers.
Azas Tigor Nainggolan, an activist from the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta), shared Suyono's view, saying that the city administration should improve the public transportation system before developing the infrastructure.
"I don't understand why the administration always proposes to build the infrastructure instead of concentrating on the system," he told the Post.
Azas said the development of the transportation infrastructure, such as bus terminals, was not well-planned.
"It won't solve the traffic jams," he said, comparing Jakarta's public transportation infrastructure to that of Taipei's, which has fewer bus terminals but were better managed, organized and in suitable locations.
He also suggested the administration to develop the MRT, which he believed would better solve the transportation problems here.
But he opposed the administration's plan to develop a subway in the city, saying that the ground was not appropriate for it.
"It would be better to improve the electrical trains as the MRT here instead of building a subway," Azas said, adding that the administration would save more money.
"It is about public interest. The administration should be serious in handling this problem," Azas said.
Separately, a city councillor from Commission D for public works, development and environmental affairs, Maringan Pangaribuan, said that public transportation was in poor condition.
Therefore, City Council supported any transportation system which could provide the proper facilities which the general public could afford, he remarked.
"We (the councillors) are continuing to discuss the issue with the administration and non-governmental organizations," he said, adding that the council and the non-governmental organization, the City Transportation Board, were still discussing which public transportation system to apply here. (04)