Accessible Public Transportation in Jakarta

Optimism arises along with reports about the development of an integrated public transportation infrastructure in Jakarta and its environs.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

The LRT train series enters Pegangsaan Dua Station, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, Tuesday (24/1/2023).

After being decided at a working meeting at the State Palace on 3 November 2022, PT Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro) is finalizing its license application for the construction of the Jakarta light rail transit (LRT Jakarta) Phase 1B, Velodrome-Manggarai. This LRT project has its target date set to start in quarter I-2023.

The Jakarta Legislative Council’s Commission B has affirmed that the LRT Jakarta from Velodrome in East Jakarta to Manggarai in South Jakarta will facilitate public mobility. The change from the original route from Velodrome to Klender and Halim Perdanakusuma is for the sake of integration with other public transportation modes and bigger volumes of mode capacity (Kompas, 23/1/2023).

In South Jakarta, the pedestrian bridge or Skywalk of Kebayoran Lama has completed its trial stage. The presence of the 500-meter long by 4-meter wide lane facilitates the residents’ change of modes from electric rail cars (KRL) to Transjakarta buses and vice versa.

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The trial lasted from Saturday to Monday (21-23/1/2023), which opened the access to the Kebayoran Station and Velbak bus stop, while the access of the Kebayoran Lama Market bus stop was still closed for being revitalized (Kompas, 22/1/2023).

In South Jakarta, the Transjakarta Cikoko bus stop in Pancoran will integrate Transjakarta bus passengers with rail-based public transportation at Cawang Station, East Jakarta.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

An officer simulates services for passengers with disabilities on the LRT train series at Pegangsaan Dua Station, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, Tuesday (24/1/2023)..

Inter-mode integration of public transportation in Jakarta has become a necessity in accordance with Jakarta’s status as a capital city and its being referred to as a metropolitan city for decades. This metropolitan reference is related to the complete segments of Jakarta as a city, ranging from the zones of settlements, office buildings, shopping hubs, recreation and sport centers to various other fields.

The various city facilities resulted in Jakarta being occupied by 10.64 million people in 2022, based on data from Statistics Indonesia. The total excludes the millions of commuters who go on daily round trips from Jakarta’s buffer regions such as Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi, mostly for work.

Also read: Time to Reform Mass Transport

The activities of over 10 million residents in Jakarta and its vicinity have forced Jakarta to provide appropriate public transportation infrastructure. The appropriate category includes safety and convenience. The aspect of convenience encompasses punctuality, system reliability and more profound integration.

Several requirements are absolutely needed to encourage the use of public transportation by Jakarta residents. An increasing number of public transportation users will reduce the use of private vehicles, which will eventually prevent traffic congestion and the wasting of fuel.

We need to keep supporting Jakarta’s endeavor to prepare and operate even better public transportation for its citizens. The better its public transportation, the more pleasant the city will be.

This article was translated by Aris Prawira.