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New govt urged to fix public transportation services
Indonesia’s public transportation systems need urgent reforms, an issue that should be on the immediate agenda of the new central government, experts say
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ndonesia’s public transportation systems need urgent reforms, an issue that should be on the immediate agenda of the new central government, experts say.
Transportation revitalization should include reforms to public transport financial management, Harya Setyaka S. Dillon said at a journalist workshop organized by the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) on the weekend.
The current system, by which drivers pay rental fees to public vehicle owners, should be changed to a per-kilometer rate controlled by the administration, he said.
“The government must make a regulation to replace the old [system],” Harya said.
If the move required a post in the city budget, Harya said, the expense was worth the improvements to public service it would bring.
A per-kilometer rate would guarantee drivers’ and transportation operators’ incomes, thus improving services, which in turn would maintain loyal users and attract private vehicle owners to switch to public transportation, Harya said.
Under present conditions, many of Jakarta’s public vehicles, including minibuses and minivans, offer passengers less-than-comfortable travel experiences and threaten other road users in their attempts to get as many passengers as possible.
As well as stopping anywhere they please, public vehicles often stop for extended periods while waiting for passengers.
The introduction of a per-kilometer rate would see the elimination of inefficient routes with too many public transport vehicles, Harya said.
Conflicts between the administration and transportation businesses may arise, but the government needs to be firm in its resolve to bring benefits to the public, he said.
Ellen S.W. Tangkudung, the head of the University of Indonesia’s transportation laboratory (part of the school of civil engineering), said a per-kilometer rate was feasible but recommended the administration reform its route permits for transportation operators.
“Route permits should not be lifetime rights. The administration needs to be able to reform inefficient routes,” she said, adding that bus routes that intersect Transjakarta busway routes should be used as busway feeders.
The central government must be financially involved in the revitalization of public transportation in cities, MTI’s Bambang Susantono said.
“The central government needs to address public transportation issues,” Bambang said.
MTI would submit its recommendations to the newly elected government, Bambang said.
The new government, which takes up office as of Oct. 20, should initiate public transportation reforms in its first 100 days in office, he said.
The recommendations include the finalization of government regulations and ministerial decrees following the passing of a new law on the transportation system.
Another recommendation is a blueprint for urban transportation networks in five major cities, including the use of environmentally friendly public vehicles.
“The government should consider the development of vehicles that use natural gas or electricity. If possible, public transportation should be included in the clean development mechanism,” he said.
Included in the blueprint is a commitment to building community-based public transportation, which means the rights and comfort of the public are prioritized.
The last recommendation MTI plans to propose is a railway revitalization program for commuter and inner-city trains in cities which have railway system like Jakarta.
