T

he Bali administration is set to allocate Rp 1,3 billion (US$139,784) this year to build supporting facilities for an integrated public transportation network to connect Denpasar with neighboring Badung, Gianyar and Tabanan regencies.

The total budget to build the network - nicknamed Trans Sarbagita - will be shared between the provincial administration and the three regencies under an agreement letter, Krisdiyanto, the provincial Transportation Agency's official handling the project, said Monday.

"We have yet to discuss financing details, but we will soon discuss this with related stakeholders, including the central government, the Denpasar municipality and the regental administrations," he said.

"We will draw up a memorandum of understanding on the issue."

He said that the central government and local authorities had previously agreed to share responsibilities in carrying out the project, with the central government providing the bus fleet, while the local administrations would build the facilities, including bus stops, traffic signs and zebra crossings along the routes.

Out of the Rp 1.3 billion allocated for this year, Rp 1.16 billion will be spent building 40 bus stops, while the remainder will be used to procure 120 traffic sign units and set up zebra crossings at 20 locations. The total budget estimated for this project is Rp 15.13 billion.

The entire network comprising 17 routes is targeted to be completed by 2014, with 204 air-conditioned buses and 450 bus stops provided to serve the routes.

Of the 17 routes, three will pass through the Ngurah Rai Airport, three others will connect tourist destinations, while 11 will serve commuters travelling between Denpasar and the three regencies.

For the initial phase of the project, the central government will provide 20 air-conditioned buses to serve the three main routes. The buses are expected to hit the road by the end of this year.

The three main routes will respectively connect Batubulan with Nusa Dua, Puputan Badung with Jimbaran (Garuda Wisnu Kencana), as well as Batubulan with Ngurah Rai Airport. The establishment of bus stops and traffic signs for the first three routes is scheduled to be completed by October this year.

The provincial administration planned to launch the routes early this year, but delayed it due to technical and management problems.

Head of the province's transportation agency Made Santha said his office was still studying factors related to the network's management and how to incorporate existing public transportation routes and vehicles within the new network.

The integrated network aims to ease traffic in Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar and Tabanan, which include top tourist destinations. Rapid population growth and a high influx of tourists have worsened traffic.

Krisdiyanto said the Trans Sarbagita was expected to encourage people to use public transportation services instead of their private cars or motorcycles, since the network would be operated on a fixed schedule of bus arrival and departure, and be priced at Rp 3,000 per trip.

The buses will operate from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., with 15-minute intervals between arrivals.