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City considers changes to APTB buses operations
Public bus: An integrated bus network (APTB) unit passes down Jl
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span class="inline inline-center">Public bus: An integrated bus network (APTB) unit passes down Jl. Raya Ciputat in South Jakarta on Wednesday. Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama plans to scrap the APTB intercity routes. JP/R. Berto Wedhatama
Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama plans to make changes to the operation of the APTB (integrated bus network) buses as they are deemed ineffective and too expensive for passengers.
The APTB started operation in 2012. Currently, APTB buses are operated by various private firms, such as Mayasari Bakti, Sinar Jaya and PPD (the city bus company). The buses travel between Jakarta and various neighboring areas, such as Bogor and Bekasi in West Java, and Tangerang.
According to Ahok, APTB was first introduced in 2012 under former Transportation Agency head Udar Pristono as a feeder for the Transjakarta busway. However, the APTB buses now have their own intercity routes and travel on the dedicated Transjakarta lanes.
'The APTB is no longer serving its purpose. It is ineffective,' Ahok told reporters at City Hall in Central Jakarta on Monday.
Ahok went on that the APTB buses were too expensive. Currently, APTB fares range from Rp 10,000 (78 US cents) to Rp 17,000. But if a passenger takes an APTB from a Transjakarta bus stop, they pay only Rp 5,000 on top of the Transjakarta fare of Rp 3,500.
Ahok suggested that the APTB operations be stopped and replaced with extended Transjakarta routes instead.
'The APTB is ineffective and much too expensive. We think that the APTB routes should be replaced by extended Transjakarta routes. Under Transjakarta, intercity traveling would be cheaper,' Ahok said.
Currently, Transjakarta, operated by city owned PT Transportasi Jakarta, only has one intercity route on Corridor II, which travels from Pulogadung in East Jakarta to Harapan Indah in Bekasi, West Java.
Ahok also suggested that the APTB act in its primary function; as a feeder to the Transjakarta busway.
'If not, the APTB should just act as a feeder to Transjakarta. Therefore, the APTB buses would only take passengers from Bogor or Tangerang to the nearest Transjakarta bus stops. Passengers can continue their journey on Transjakarta buses,' Ahok said.
'I've asked previous Transportation Agency heads [Udar Pristono and Muhammad Akbar] to find a solution to this, but they have both failed. The new Transportation Agency head must take care of this problem quickly, or else I will demote him as well,' he said.
Separately, newly inaugurated Transportation Agency head Benjamin Bukit acknowledged that the APTB bus routes would be dangerous as they would require the buses to travel in and out of the dedicated busway lanes. He said that his agency would 'try to identify the problem and seek the solution'.
Meanwhile, APTB passengers have expressed their disappointment with the city administration's plan to make changes. For example, Febrian Perdana Putra, who takes the Bogor (West Java)-Blok M (South Jakarta) route daily, said that the APTB made commuting to and from Jakarta easier for residents in neighboring cities and regencies.
'The APTB buses are very practical for traveling to the Greater Jakarta area. I don't mind that the buses are expensive because it makes traveling much easier for me,' Febrian told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday, adding that he lived in Bogor and worked in Warung Buncit, South Jakarta.
Febrian went on that he hoped the city administration would not go through with its plan to make changes to the bus operations.
'I don't understand why the city administration needs to change APTB's operations. If it happens, I would rather take the commuter train,' he said.
