B

ig cities around the world are proud of their MRT systems. New York City has the subway, London has the tube and Tokyo has the most extensive, sophisticated subway train system.

In March, PT Transportasi Jakarta (Transjakarta) will welcome the country’s first MRT, which was established by PT MRT Jakarta. Its first phase will serve commuters from Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta.

In December, the Greater Jakarta Transportation Agency (BPTJ) said in its transportation outlook that this year will be the beginning of a new era, when the MRT will be the backbone of the city’s transportation system. Other systems, including Transjakarta buses and commuter trains would take a supporting role, the BPTJ said.

Another player will also come to town.

The light rapid transit (LRT) will begin operations soon, serving passengers from Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta to Rawamangun in East Jakarta. The LRT is being constructed by city-owned developer PT Jakarta Propertindo.

Another LRT system from state-owned construction firm PT Adhi Karya (Adhi) from Cibubur, East Bekasi and Dukuh Atas to Cawang, and another LRT project by Jakarta-owned PT Jakpro from Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta to the Jakarta International Velodrome in Rawamangun, East Jakarta will follow.

“Right now, the busway is the city’s backbone. We must have the confidence to say that the other modes of transportation will be successful because we’ve been here long before them,” Transjakarta’s president director Agung Wicaksono said with pride.

Agung, a former director of operations and maintenance at MRT Jakarta, said Transjakarta welcomed the MRT and maintained a good relationship with MRT Jakarta so that they could work together to integrate their services. Their discussions are currently focusing on integrating routes and payments.

“It needs a comprehensive study to answer some questions, such as what are the best routes so that people can reach the MRT station in Lebak Bulus? Or what routes could Transjakarta provide on Corridor 1 to optimize the use of the MRT along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin?” he said.

In his speech during a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta last week, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said the government had to be brave in pushing people to leave their cars at home and take public transit instead. The key to this is better integration of all the public transit modes: the MRT, LRT, commuter train and Transjakarta buses.

Yoga Adi Winarto, a transportation expert at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, which is a consultant for Transjakarta, said although some people expected the MRT to serve as the backbone, the busway would always win.

“The busway could expand routes on existing roads, while it takes years to wait for the underground train to be developed. And although their routes overlap [on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta], both services can support each other,” he said.

Customer Cornelia Halim, who has been using the Transjakarta service since 2010, is perhaps an example of what Yoga foresaw about the MRT. Even though she said she welcomed the MRT, Cornelia would still use Transjakarta.

“Maybe I’ll stick with Transjakarta. The MRT trip ends in Central Jakarta, which is still far away from my house,” said the West Jakarta resident.