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Jasa Marga ready for odd-even rule on Cikampek

State toll road operator Jasa Marga will work with the Transportation Ministry and the Jakarta Police in preparing to roll out the government’s odd-even traffic policy on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road, particularly at the West Bekasi and East Bekasi gates, in a bid to ease congestion along the crucial route

Farida Susanty and Fachrul Sidiq (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Sat, February 24, 2018

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Jasa Marga ready for odd-even rule on Cikampek

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tate toll road operator Jasa Marga will work with the Transportation Ministry and the Jakarta Police in preparing to roll out the government’s odd-even traffic policy on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road, particularly at the West Bekasi and East Bekasi gates, in a bid to ease congestion along the crucial route.

Under the new rule, only cars with odd license plate numbers will be allowed to pass during rush hour on odd dates, while those with even license plate numbers can travel only on even dates.

The odd-even traffic policy for private cars, which is modelled on one already applied along Jakarta’s main thoroughfare, Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin, will take effect starting March 12, between
6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on weekdays.

The policy will also apply to cargo trucks, with certain exceptions. Public buses going from Bekasi to Jakarta will be affected by the new rule as well, though they will be assigned a designated lane.

“We are preparing all the necessary facilities, road signs and markings, workers and announcements on VMSs [variable message sign],” Jasa Marga AVP corporate communication Dwimawan Heru said on Friday, adding that the firm would be strict in implementing the rule.

“If the number plate doesn’t match [the date], we will turn the car around,” he warned.

Jasa Marga expects the policy to ease congestion on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road, especially now that a number of major infrastructure projects are under way in the area, including the Jakarta-Cikampek elevated toll road and the light rail transit (LRT).

A study commissioned by the Greater Jakarta Transportation Body (BPTJ) found that in 2015, 2.12 million trips were made daily from the outskirts of Jakarta to the capital, using both public and private transportation.

Of the figure, 756,748 trips were made from Bekasi, while 748,602 trips were made from Tangerang, Banten, and 617,724 trips were made from Depok and Bogor, West Java.

Currently, between 3,000 and 4,400 private cars enter through the East and West Bekasi toll gates every day during morning peak hours.

Jasa Marga said decreased revenue from fewer cars going through its gates would not be a concern.

The firm’s corporate secretary, Agus Setiawan, said a less-congested toll road would lead to more cars using it.

“So, our hope is that traffic will not decrease,” he said.

Jasa Marga has enjoyed an increase in revenue to Rp 6.7 trillion in the third quarter of last year, from Rp 6.4 trillion in 2016. Its profit also rose to Rp 1.8 trillion from Rp 1.2 trillion in the same period.

While relevant authorities plan the policy’s implementation, the BPTJ has tabled another proposal to apply a similar odd-even traffic rule at other toll roads connecting Jakarta with other suburban cities, such as Tangerang, Depok and Bogor.

“For now, we have only studied the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road, but it’s very plausible to implement the measure in other areas. We are going to continue to see traffic [jams] on roads in Greater Jakarta and we’ll certainly do something [to ease] worsening traffic congestion,” said BPTJ head Bambang Prihartono.

Transportation expert Djoko Setijowarno said the government should also improve the quality of public transportation to help commuters deal with the effect of the even-odd policy.

“It will solve [the congestion] problem if it is properly monitored and there is enough public transportation vehicles [traveling to and from Bekasi],” he said.

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