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Transjakarta caused traffic jams in initial years of operation, study says
The study is based on Greater Jakarta transportation data from 2002 to 2010, collected by the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA).
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A Transjakarta bus passes around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Oct. 13, 2015. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
W
hile Transjakarta is lauded by many as the breakthrough solution for Jakarta’s infamous traffic congestion, a study has suggested otherwise, arguing that the capital’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) system had the spillover effect of worsening jams in the initial years of its operation.
The study by University of Arkansas associate professor Arya Gaduh, an economist from the non-profit global policy think tank RAND Corporation, Tadeja Gračner, and Alexander D. Rothenberg of Syracuse University observed the impact of Transjakarta on traffic and motorists' behavior, based on Greater Jakarta transportation data provided by the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) from 2002 to 2010.
According to JICA data, in 2002 public buses carried 52.3 percent of commuters, followed by private motorcycles at 22.1 percent and private cars at 13.8 percent.
The Jakarta administration launched Transjakarta with its first corridor on Jan. 15, 2004 connecting Blok M in South Jakarta to Kota in West Jakarta, passing the capital’s main business districts along Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman. The service took inspiration from the BRT Transmilenio in Bogota, Colombia.
“It’s true that our study found Transjkakarta worsened traffic on its corridors [from 2002 to 2010]. One of the reasons was because its initial implementation was not that good yet,” Arya told The Jakarta Post via email on Tuesday.
The operation of Transjakarta sparked public criticism at that time as the service took space from the existing thoroughfare for a dedicated lane.
However, as years went by, the city-owned firm gradually attracted more passengers. In 2010, according to JICA, Transjakarta gained a 4.3 percent share of commuters. However, at the top was private motorcycles with 50.8 percent, public buses with 23.4 percent, and private cars with 11.7 percent.
