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Odd-even traffic policy trial is a success: Police
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An information board announcing the trial of the odd-even traffic policy at the underpass of Dukuh Atas in Sudirman, Central Jakarta, on July 25. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
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s its trial soon comes to an end, the odd-even license plate traffic policy should be commended for smoothening traffic and increasing the number of people taking public transportation, officials claim.
An evaluation of the policy showed improvement in Jakarta's traffic, the legal enforcement head of the Jakarta Police's traffic directorate, Adj. Sr. Comr. Budiyanto, said on Friday.
Since the trial launched on July 27, the policy has shown average speed increases for vehicles of 20 percent to 28.9 kilometers per hour from 24.6 km per hour prior to the trial. The policy also helped Transjakarta buses, which routes met with the roads where the trial was implemented, cruise through the corridors faster from 18 minutes from 14.6 minutes between stations. Especially for Transjakarta's corridor I (serving Blok M to Kota) and corridor IX (Pinang Ranti to Pluit) the headway of bus arrivals also became faster.
In the month-long trial of the policy, more people took Transjakarta buses, Budiyanto said, citing a 32.6 percent increase of corridor I (Blok M - Kota) to 70,850 passengers, 27.2 percent increase to 28,636 passengers in corridor VI (Ragunan-Dukuh Atas) and 30.6 percent increase to 42,170 passengers in corridor IV (Pinang Ranti-Pluit).
After the trial ends Saturday, Jakarta Police and the Jakarta Transportation Agency will officially implement the policy, which replaced the decade-long three-in-one traffic policy, on Aug. 30. Once it takes effect, Jakarta Police will charge any violators with a Rp 500,000 fine (US$37.76).
Meanwhile, Jakarta Transportation Agency chief Andri Yansyah said his office was preparing the supporting facilities for the policy such as revoking three-in-one traffic signs and improving road separators on Transjakarta bus corridors.
The agency and Jakarta Police will also evaluate alternative routes to help increase vehicle commute speeds. (rin)
