F

ollowing the success of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Bogota, Colombia, the city administration in Jakarta is set to collaborate with transport authorities in Bogota to help improve the Transjakarta system.

Indonesian Ambassador to Colombia Michael Menufandu said Bogota's governor had expressed his intention to build a sister-city program with Jakarta.

"Bogota's governor said he wanted to boost cooperation between the two cities by helping with the BRT system and other public facilities," said Menufandu.

"Jakarta can learn from Bogota's TransMilenio bus system to help improve our busways," he told reporters after a meeting with Governor Fauzi Bowo at City Hall on Tuesday.

He hinted at the possibility of the city governors exchanging visits in the near future.

Fauzi welcomed the idea saying, "We've learned much from Bogota's BRT system.

"We hope to learn more from the city in other areas too."

Jakarta has been influenced by Bogota regarding the development of the Transjakarta system, which was first launched in 2004.

"Mr.Ambassador, for instance, explained Bogota's success in reducing crime," said Fauzi.

As of today, Transjakarta buses, known locally as the busway, operate in eight areas.

However, the Transjakarta management has faced many problems due to poor service delivery.

The lack of buses and an unresolved tariff problem between Transjakarta and the consortium operating the corridors has recently complicated the situation.

Many busway users complain of overcrowded buses, damaged shelters and long delays in the operation of new routes.

Separately, the administration said it hoped to sign the basic engineering design contract for the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project next month.

"The project can start after the signing takes place in May," Sarwo Handayani, the city's assistant for development and environment was quoted as saying by beritajakarta.com.

Head of the transportation agency, Mochamad Tauchid Tjakraamidjaja, said his office would carry out plans to handle traffic problems that might come up once the construction project started in 2011.

The building of elevated roads and the MRT depot, he said, is expected to start in 2011 and finish in 2014, while the construction of underground routes will commence in 2011 and be completed in the next 4 years.

The 14.5-kilometer MRT route - spanning from Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta to Dukuh Atas in Central Jakarta - is expected to be operational in 2016. About 10.5 kilometers of the route will be elevated, while the remaining route will be built underground.