'Worsening traffic jams caused by busway project'

'Worsening traffic jams caused by busway project'

The city administration will soon extend the three-in-one traffic
policy along the full length of the busway from Blok M in South
Jakarta to Kota in West Jakarta from 6:30 a.m. through 8 p.m. to
support the much vaunted busway project. Many observers have
criticized the project because they say it will actually worsen
traffic congestion. The Jakarta Post talked to some people about
the new policy.

Engkus, 38, is employed by a private sector telecommunications
company. He lives with his family in Pondok Gede, East Jakarta:

I don't mind the extension of the three-in-one policy as I
always have at least two colleagues who come to work with me.

I just wonder if the busway project will really ease traffic
congestion. From what I can see at the moment, its actually
making things worse. It used to take me about 15 minutes to drive
from the Semanggi cloverleaf to my office but now its taking me
about 30 minutes.

Given this, the busway appears to be just another money-
wasting project.

I lived in Singapore for two years, so I know that the traffic
regulations there work well, mainly because of fair law
enforcement and public discipline. So, a well-managed traffic
system is all about people's mentalities.

Sulaiman Ismaya, 64, is a retired teacher now working for the
school accreditation agency with the Ministry of National
Education. He lives with his wife and two children in West
Jakarta:

The chaotic traffic situation here is in desperate need of a
comprehensive solution that involves concerted efforts by all of
the relevant institutions and not just the city administration
alone.

The extended three-in-one traffic policy, however, is only a
small part of what is needed to ease our traffic woes.

However, if the administration insists on implementing the new
policy, we will need honest police officers to monitor
implementation.

-- The Jakarta Post