Following the integration of Kopaja and the proposed integration of a number of Metromini medium sized buses into the Transjakarta network, the Jakarta city administration has announced a plan to construct approximately 2,000 bus stops in an effort to end the '€œstop anywhere'€ model long-practiced by the city'€™s bus drivers.

The project is to be implemented next year as medium sized buses will be expected to become feeder services for the main Transjakarta corridors.

'€œWe want a total restructuring so that passengers won'€™t board or get off haphazardly,'€ said Jakarta Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama on Wednesday as quoted by tempo.co.

Kopaja officially integrated into PT Transportasi Jakarta (Transjakarta) on Tuesday and dozens of Metromini owners have expressed a desire to join the city owned public transportation company. As of Tuesday, 320 buses had begun operation along six new Transjakarta Feeder routes, marking the beginning of the Transjakarta-Kopaja integration.

The routes and number of buses assigned to operate along them have been decided as follows: Monas '€“ Pantai Indah Kapuk with 30 buses; Ragunan '€“ Monas with 50 buses; Ragunan '€“ Dukuh Atas with 50 buses; Lebak Bulus '€“ Senen via Cikini Station with 80 buses; Blok M '€“ Manggarai via Manggarai Station with 40 buses. An additional route is under consideration, as 70 buses remain available.

The bus stops will be built in a modern, minimalist style, according to Ahok. They are designed to be equipped with arrival time indicators and bus schedules similar to Singapore bus stops, he added. '€œThe bus stops will be transparent at the back, so it will be easier,'€ he said.

For the construction process, Ahok continued, a consortium will be created by advertising companies, while the tender processes will begin next year. The tender processes had been undertaken previously but had fallen through and needs to be redone.

Ahok asked the Jakarta Transportation Agency to strictly monitor the Transjakarta feeder operations and bus stop usage and not to neglect the main function of the bus stops as the location where passengers board and disembark. '€œIf you haphazardly let passengers get on and off, I could strike your name. There are many bus drivers who are willing to queue now,'€ stressed Ahok.

Bus drivers who don'€™t adhere to government rules will only lose out, he continued, adding that drives who would choose to buy their own buses should reconsider competing against a city government that can afford to buy most of their own vehicles.

According to Ahok, the Jakarta government has prepared a budget of Rp 4 trillion (US$ 292.08 million) to buy buses to accommodate for public necessity. However, he said that the government still welcomed independent drivers as many of them are considerate and disciplined.

Facility improvements, such as an increase in bus numbers, will be conducted periodically with the aim of a continuous reduction in waiting-time. '€œIf the buses arrive every 10 minutes or less, it won'€™t be necessary to have as many bus stops because the buses will travel quickly enough,'€ said Ahok. (liz/bbn)

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