"Political Will" Realizes Reliability of Jakarta Public Transportation

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The elected Governor and Deputy Governor of Jakarta, Pramono Anung-Rano Karno, promised free rides on public transportation for 15 groups and expanded the scope of its services. This promise requires political will because improvements to the public transportation system so far have been partial and less integrated.

Pramono-Rano has prepared 11 priority programs for the first 100 days of their leadership. These programs focus on improving the welfare of residents, particularly the lower-middle class, such as providing free Transjakarta, Jakarta LRT, and Jakarta MRT services for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), persons with disabilities, religious facility caretakers, and public housing residents.

Both also offer the Jakarta Bergerak program as a solution to traffic congestion by increasing the coverage of public transportation services. In addition, they will collaborate with the central government and Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi to improve the quality of public transportation in their respective areas.

The Chairman of the Strategic Transportation Initiative (Instran), Budi Susandi, stated that political will and consistency from Pramono-Rano are needed because optimal public transportation services remain a significant challenge. With a large regional budget, adequate human resources, and support from the central government, Jakarta should be able to manage public transportation better.

"The elected Governor and Deputy Governor (of Jakarta) must have clear transportation policies, supported by adequate financial allocation, and optimize human resources," said Budi during a press conference on the Message to the Governor: Realize a Civilized and Dignified Jakarta Transportation, Wednesday (19/2/2025) afternoon.

This is partly reflected in the disparity between the growth of private vehicles and public transportation. Data from 2024 shows that the number of motor vehicles in Jakarta reached 24,356,653 units, consisting of 4,354,155 private cars, 19,016,898 motorcycles, 44,352 buses, 876,637 freight vehicles, and 64,611 special vehicles.

Budi stated that the disparity between private vehicles and public transportation is becoming more apparent. Moreover, it is exacerbated by inconsistent policies that do not fully support public transportation.

The policies in question are ease of purchasing new vehicles, cheap parking rates in the city center, and fuel subsidies for private vehicles.

"Meanwhile, vehicle restrictions, such as odd-even, are not yet optimal and electronic road pricing (ERP) is still stagnant due to a lack of political will," said Budi.

Instran suggested high parking rates in the city center so that people think twice before bringing private vehicles. Furthermore, requiring private parking lot ownership for vehicle owners to reduce vehicle ownership and illegal parking on the streets and ensuring the implementation of ERP according to plan.

On the other hand, the Jakarta Provincial Government can provide incentives for public transportation users. The form is in the form of tax reductions or scholarships for students.

Budi said, the elected Governor and Deputy Governor of Jakarta are responsible for realizing a public transportation-based transportation system in accordance with the mandate of existing regulations. For example, requiring 60 percent of trips to use public transportation.

This is in accordance with the mandate of Presidential Regulation Number 55 of 2018 concerning the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi Transportation Master Plan for 2018-2029 and DKI Jakarta Provincial Regulation Number 1 of 2012 concerning the 2030 Regional Spatial Planning Plan.

"Singapore can be used as an example in limiting the vehicle population. There, new vehicle owners must participate in government auctions and cars over a certain age can no longer operate. Jakarta can implement a similar system to reduce the number of private vehicles," Budi said.

In the same press conference, the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) of DKI Jakarta emphasized that transportation is the key to socio-economic welfare. Its implementation must be correct, professional, appropriate method, useful, and efficient.

This can be achieved through comprehensive improvement by solving the root of the problem. Not a fragmented approach.

Chairman of MTI DKI Jakarta, Yusa Cahya Permana said, the massive improvement of the transportation system so far has not produced the results as expected. One of the causes is the partial and less integrated improvement.

Therefore, the government must strengthen and enforce regulations, including updating them according to current developments. Then, align regulations with spatial planning and agglomeration city planning to create a more efficient and sustainable transportation system.

"The six K concept in transportation must be applied consistently," said Yusa.

The six Ks are safety, security, reliability, convenience, comfort, and equality. All public transportation infrastructure and services, as well as pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle facilities must be organized in accordance with the six K principles.

According to Yusa, all public transportation must be integrated in service, infrastructure, and payment or as a whole. Physical integration, for example, is not only between Transjakarta and trains, but also other transportation services.

Likewise, the integration of schedule information so that people can plan their trips easily. Next is a simple and easy payment system in one card or digital application.

"Transportation planning must also be in line with regional development, so that public transportation is more easily accessible to people around the agglomeration," said Yusa.

Pramono-Rano in making transportation policies is expected to involve the community as users or target groups. One of them is based on the lack and absence of standardization of information for users or prospective users of public transportation.

Executive Director 2 of the Jakarta Transportation Discussion Forum (FDTJ) Muhammad Irham Syarif gave an example of the confusion of users and potential users regarding the flow of public transportation because infrastructure development has neglected the provision of information.

Last time, the FDTJ team and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy Indonesia, Stravenues, and Transpod launched a map of the public transportation network in the Jabodetabek area to help people avoid confusion, especially when changing modes.

"In the next 10 years, information integration will not only require standardization, but also collaboration between various parties. Starting from planning, data transparency, to updating information systems to be relevant," said Irham.

Leaded Gasoline Elimination Committee Program Manager Alfred Sitorus added that the Jakarta Provincial Government could utilize the building floor coefficient fines from developers for the construction or development of pedestrian facilities and infrastructure as well as public transportation.

"As a form of 'redemption' for the land exploitation carried out, (violators) can be required to build public facilities, such as sidewalks and bicycle paths. This step is not new because it was carried out during the time of Governor Ahok (Basuki Tjahaja Purnama)," said Alfred.

He believes this approach can accelerate development and development without relying entirely on the APBD. In addition, it also emphasizes that city development must side with the community, not just commercial interests.

Head of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Transportation Agency, Syafrin Liputo, confirmed that although there have been no radical policies from the Jakarta Provincial Government, a paradigm shift in transportation has taken place in the last 6 years from being based on private vehicles to being based on transit.

One real example of the private vehicle era is the construction of shopping centers and office buildings with large parking areas so that private vehicles compete to enter the city center.

"Now, several large parking areas are starting to become empty due to policy changes that prioritize public transportation. This shows that the old paradigm is no longer effective and Jakarta must continue to adapt," said Syafrin during the Jakarta Update session or the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government responding to urban issues at the Jakarta City Hall, Monday (2/17/2025).

According to Syafrin, the change to transit-based has begun to bear sweet fruit. For example, there has been an increase in Transjakarta users from 400,000 to 1.3 million people per day. This means that people are starting to switch to public transportation.

The Jakarta Provincial Government also continues to strive to build sidewalks and pedestrian paths to facilitate access to bus stops and stations. This effort is in line with intermodal integration and preparing ERP regulations so that they can run without legal obstacles and reviewing vehicle age restrictions.

"The approach must be holistic. All parties are involved so that regulations are not haphazard," said Syafrin.