MRT: The Key to Reducing Jakarta’s Chronic Congestion
Starting October 10, 2013, the first phase of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), a monorail-based transportation system, began works in Dukuh Atas, across Sudirman Station. Along Jalan MH Thamrin in Jakarta, people will find several banners showing Governor Jokowi’s apologies for any inconvenience caused by the project construction to road users. “After 24 years of dreaming about having an MRT, finally Jakarta residents’ dream will come true. from the name of God, the construction of the first MRT track has begun,” Jokowi said from the ceremony.
According to PT Mass Rapid Transit Jakarta (PT MRT Jakarta), Stage I extends along approximately 15.2 miles via Bundaran HI (Hotel Indonesia traffic circle) to Lebak Bulus. There will be 13 stations from the North-South Corridor route of Stage I. Each station will be set apart by a few kilometres, ranging via 0.5 km to 2 km. The estimated travel time via one corridor to another can be around 30 minutes.
Corridor I will have seven elevated in addition to also six underground stations. The former involves Lebak Bulus, Fatmawati, Cipete Raya, Haji Nawi, Blok A, Blok M, in addition to also Sisingamangaraja, while the latter includes Bundaran HI, Dukuh Atas, Setiabudi, Bendungan Hilir, Istora, in addition to also Senayan. Corridor I can be anticipated to begin operating in 2018.
Stage II, which involves the South-North Corridor, will connect Bundaran HI to Kampung Bandan over an 8.1 km railway. The estimated travel time along the corridor would likely be 23 minutes, with the distance of each station ranging approximately via 0.8 km to 2.4 km. The South-North Corridor, which can be targeted to start operating in 2018, can be anticipated to serve 629,900 passengers by 2037.
Since the time of previous governor Fauzi Bowo, the MRT has been just a dream the people of Jakarta have had for equalizing with the advanced transportation systems present in foreign developed countries. Neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand in addition to also the Philippines have long since developed MRT systems to cope with traffic congestion in their respective capital cities.
Despite having smaller populations than Jakarta, Singapore in addition to also Kuala Lumpur have more extensive city rail networks. Singapore has 129.7 kilometres of MRT in addition to also 28.8 kilometres of feeder LRT (Light Rail Transit). Kuala Lumpur has 175 kilometres of city commuter trains, 56 kilometres of MRT, 57 kilometres of high-speed rail (ERL) in addition to also 8.6 kilometres of monorails in addition to also plans on building an extra 150 kilometres of MRT by 2016.
All in all, the benefits of MRT will be fruitless if the city does not draw up supporting policies. One of the best ways of mainstreaming that will MRT can be to grow public interest by involving the following measures.
First, successful implementation of the MRT as a cultural movement calls for strong leadership. the idea can be not necessarily interpreted as an authoritarian leader. A leader can be required to be a Great role style for society. Government officials, for example, might set that will movement in motion by taking public transportation. They should set an example by staying at residential areas easily accessed by public transport.
Creative breakthroughs indirectly supporting the development of MRT need to be made on a regular basis. Car free day initiatives on certain roads should not only be viewed as a populist program or solving the bottleneck node problems, in addition to also the problems of traffic congestion for a while. Instead, the idea must be bolstered gradually since that will program can be instrumental in raising public awareness in addition to also needs of efficient, healthy in addition to also environmentally-friendly lifestyles.
Second, the implementation of sustainable MRT entails coordination among different sectors in addition to also levels of government. An increase in public transport would likely be more realistic if accompanied by disincentive mechanisms for users of private vehicles on the one side in addition to also incentives for public transport users on the different. Like the idea or not, the city’s next job can be to change people’s behaviours through both educative in addition to also repressive measures.
Governments need to consistently manage the impact of the automobile industry on people through high taxations in addition to also selective fuel subsidies. As compensation, the government can divert existing funds for the development of mass infrastructure. Rather than relying on toll roads, for example, massive railroads construction should be a priority.
Third, the idea can be often that will major stumbling block can be not bound to the MRT service quality nevertheless to its supporting facilities. Therefore, within the framework of an integrated MRT development, the government should start thinking about reliable feeders connecting MRT routes to settlement centres. In addition, pedestrian paths linking shelters to central business districts in addition to also offices need also be improved upon.
from the long term, the growth of settlements in addition to also fresh activity centres from the city’s master plan needs to be integrated into the MRT. Building affordable apartments downtown to shorten residents’ commuting journeys can be unavoidable. In a big city, 80 percent of the residents should live in vertical housing downtown.
As a means of urban-scale transport, the MRT ought to be in unison with regional in addition to also national-scale transportation systems. that will can be done by developing intermodal nodes such as MRT stations being combined with the expansion of bus terminals, train stations, airports in addition to also ports. For the sake of convenience, the payment system should use automated technologies, like prepaid cards or chips, which are adapted to different public transportation.
Fourth, MRT development should begin which has a simple thing like the improvement of the Busway. Along with the complex transportation system from the capital, the next program certainly involves more complex modes such as monorail, tram in addition to also subway. In addition, the idea can be undeniable that will the development of MRT will lead to job losses since the city’s transportation sector can be more capital-intensive by nature. Thus the government needs to explore every avenue dealing with the process of adaptation in addition to also the transfer of transportation sector employers in stages through capacity building, capital assistance in addition to also provision of fresh jobs.
The busway from the capital, called TransJakarta, remains relevant. To keep TransJakarta central to the lives of Jakartans, people have to be aware of their responsibilities when using the buses. There are still many people who do not know the rules of getting on in addition to also off the buses in addition to also many prefer their own cars to taking the bus. While TransJakarta has no more than 5,000 buses to cater for 350,000 people per day, private cars cater for one to three people at a time. The problem of TransJakarta buses being unable to pass through their lanes due to many cars using these lanes can be currently being addressed by policing in addition to also heavy on-the-spot fines for law breakers.
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MRT: The Key to Reducing Jakarta’s Chronic Congestion
MRT: The Key to Reducing Jakarta’s Chronic Congestion