FusilatNews – For decades, Jakarta has struggled with severe traffic congestion, ranking among the top 10 most congested cities in the world. Despite numerous policies introduced by previous governors, the traffic problem persists. The primary reason is that the growth of vehicles in Jakarta far exceeds the expansion of road infrastructure.
With each change in leadership, new policies emerge in an attempt to address the issue. In reality, traffic congestion in Jakarta can be mitigated by improving public transportation, restricting private vehicle ownership, and enforcing stricter parking regulations.
Now, all eyes are on Jakarta’s newly elected governor, Pramono Anung Wibowo, set to be inaugurated next week. The question remains: will his policies be effective in addressing Jakarta’s long-standing traffic woes? Some of the strategies he plans to implement include:
- Enhancing Public Transportation
- Expanding integrated public transport services, such as MRT, LRT, Transjakarta, and Mikrotrans Jaklingko.
- Providing incentives for public transport users.
- Developing eco-friendly transportation, such as electric buses.
- Restricting Private Vehicle Ownership
- Implementing stricter policies to limit the number of privately owned vehicles in Jakarta.
- Implementing Stricter Parking Regulations
- Designing a more integrated parking restriction system to discourage car usage.
Other possible solutions include:
- Replacing the odd-even vehicle policy with an Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system.
- Establishing new business hubs across Jakarta to decentralize congestion.
- Constructing underpasses and overpasses at busy intersections.
Jakarta’s ongoing traffic crisis remains an urgent challenge for Governor Pramono Anung and his deputy, Rano Karno. Pramono believes that the key to reducing congestion and pollution lies in shifting people’s habits from using private vehicles to public transportation.
“This is a crucial issue. That’s why we will extend free public transportation access to 15 priority groups who currently enjoy free Transjakarta rides, allowing them to use MRT and LRT at no cost as well,” he stated during the third Jakarta gubernatorial debate on Sunday (17/11/2024).
The expansion of free access for these 15 groups is set to be a priority within his first 100 days in office. Additionally, for workers commuting from Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek), the administration plans to introduce designated Ride and Park areas to facilitate smooth transitions to Jakarta’s public transport system, particularly through an expanded Jaklingko network.
With this approach, commuters from various regions will be better connected to the city’s existing transportation network. Pramono also noted that while Transjakarta currently integrates with 86% of other transport modes, its effectiveness remains at just 25%. In contrast, cities like Singapore achieve over 48% efficiency in public transportation utilization. Therefore, he aims to increase Jakarta’s public transport efficiency to at least 35%. “If Jakarta can reach 35%, that would already be a significant improvement,” he said during a discussion in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (13/11/2024).
