Odd-Even Policy Deemed Success, but Not Just for Short Term
The odd-even traffic policy as part of traffic engineering has been deemed a success in reducing private vehicle use and traffic jams, while increasing public transportation use in Jakarta. However, these are all deemed short-term impacts.
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JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The odd-even traffic policy as part of traffic engineering has been deemed a success in reducing private vehicle use and traffic jams, while increasing public transportation use in Jakarta. However, these are all deemed short-term impacts. To implement the policy permanently, further research is necessary on the policy’s long-term impact, including on businesses.
“Traffic is smoother nowadays,” said Ahmad Arie Budiawan, 30, who used a ride-hailing service in Central Jakarta on Friday (31/8/2018).
Jakarta Transportation Agency deputy head Sigit Wijatmoko revealed the agency’s evaluation on the policy in a focus group discussion at the agency.
“Evaluation shows that vehicles’ speed is increasing, travel time is reduced, air quality has improved and motorists save fuel,” Sigit said.
On roads affected by the expanded odd-even traffic policy, vehicles’ speed as of the third week of August this year had increased at an average of 37 percent compared to before the expanded policy was implemented. Travel time was reduced up to 30 percent.
At the same time, Transjakarta saw a 40-percent increase of passengers from 2,877,453 to 4,034,358. Regular buses also saw similar increases. “Commuter trains saw between 12 percent and 20 percent of passenger surge,” Sigit said.
“Carbon dioxide emission also dropped by 28 percent thanks to the policy,” Leaded Fuel Eradication Committee chair Ahmad Safrudin said.
This surpassed the initial target of 20 percent. Reduction of fuel usage during the odd-even policy implementation reached 1.8 million kiloliters.
“If the policy is implemented yearlong, we can save around 2.96 million kiloliters of fuel, equal to Rp 12 trillion,” Ahmad said.
Changing mindset
Greater Jakarta Transportation Body (BPTJ) chair Bambang Prihartono said Jakartans’ mindset had changed following the odd-even policy as many now preferred public transportation.
If the odd-even policy is made permanent, the BPTJ wishes to reach the target of 60 percent of travel in Jakarta to be done using public transportation. “To achieve this, the BPTJ is planning a ticketing system in which one ticket can be used on all transportation modes,” Bambang said.
Further research necessary
The Jakarta administration has issued a new gubernatorial regulation to extend the odd-even traffic policy up to the end of the Asian Para Games on Oct. 13 with some rule adjustments. Gubernatorial Regulation No. 77/2018 on odd-even traffic policy for the 2018 Asian Games will be void this Sunday (2/9).
The first rule adjustment is that Jl. Metro Pondok Indah will not be included anymore in the odd-even policy as no Asian Para Games events are held in the era. Second, the odd-even policy will only be in effect on Jl. Benyamin Sueb during the Asian Para Games on Oct. 6-13.
Third, the odd-even policy will not be in effect on Saturdays and Sundays. Fourth, the policies will not be in effect on affected roads between the last intersection before a toll entry gate and the toll entry gate, as well as between toll exit gates and the first intersection thereafter.
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan told a press conference at City Hall on Friday that all positive impacts of the odd-even policy were short-term. The city would need further research to implement the odd-even policy after the Asian Para Games.
Anies said that, in many countries, similar policies tended to lead residents to having more than one car with odd and even plates. The city administration has also considered the policy’s economic impacts as many businesses are located in policy-affected areas.
Nevertheless, no businesses have reported any significant negative impacts of the odd-even policy thus far.