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Expanded odd-even trial 'improves traffic flow, reduces pollution' in Jakarta
A little over two weeks since the trial run began for the expanded traffic policy, the city's transportation agency has already claimed improved flow and pollution levels.
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The expanded odd-even traffic has been on a trial run for just over two weeks since Aug. 12, 2019. (JP/Swi)
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bout a half a month since the Jakarta administration commenced its trial run of the expanded odd-even traffic policy, authorities are claiming increased traffic flow rates and reduced pollution.
“Traffic performance in the [targeted] areas has improved since the trial run started on Aug. 12. Average vehicle speed has increased 8.91 percent from 25.66 kilometers per hour to 28.16 kilometers per hour,” Jakarta Transportation Agency head, Syafrin Liputo said on Monday.
Syafrin added that the general increase in vehicle speeds had cut down average commute time from 16.46 to 15.25 minutes. The trial run also recorded a 18.85 percent reduction in the volume of private vehicles in the affected areas.
The agency's assessment also revealed that the expanded policy had helped reduced air pollution and increased the use of public transportation along the routes where the trial run was applied.
If deemed a success, the policy is to become effective on Sept. 9.
“The policy helped lower the level of PM 2.5 pollutants by 18 percent around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta and by 13.51 percent in Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta,” Syafrin said, referring to particles in the air that are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.
The original policy aimed to ease Jakarta's notorious traffic congestion by restricting access to selected roads to vehicles with odd-numbered license plates on odd-numbered dates and even-numbered dates for even license plate numbers. The administration has latched onto the expanded policy – implemented during the 2018 Asian Games and which covers additional roads – as a solution to the capital's congestion woes.
