Geared up to Avoid Congestion with LRT Jabodebek

Infrastructure development for the Greater Jakarta LRT is entering its final phase as the mass public transportation service sets to become the best choice for people to avoid congestion in Jakarta and surrounding areas.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Trial of the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Bekasi (Jabodebek) LRT on service line 2, Cawang-Dukuh Atas, Jakarta, Wednesday (15/3/2023). After five years of preparation, the Jabodebek LRT is targeted to operate in July 2023.

Development is underway on the infrastructure and facilities of the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok and Bekasi light rail transit (LRT Jabodebek). At the Harjamukti LRT Station, also known as the Cibubur LRT Station, in Cimanggis, Depok, West Java, the station and railway tracks appear to be finished. However, scaffolding still remains at the station for use by construction workers.

No more construction is going on outside the station. Neatly laid out sidewalks and an access road around 400 meters long leads from the station alongside the Jagorawi Toll Road to the juncture with Jl. Taman Bunga.

Two-lane access for vehicles to LRT Harjamukti Station stretches both north and south from the station. They are exclusively for use by LRT passengers to reach the station. Vehicles taking passengers to the station or to pick them up cannot park at the station, which has no parking lot.

Also read:

> Jabodebek LRT to Begin Commercial Operation in July

> Accessible Public Transportation in Jakarta

LRT passengers can use private vehicles or public transportation to reach the station on Jl. Alternatif Cibubur to the east or Jl. Jambore to the west. They can also take Transjakarta Bus No. 7C, which serves the Cibubur-BKN route, to the bus stop opposite the Cibubur Junction shopping mall.

On Tuesday morning (14/3/2023), the roads to Cibubur LRT Station were clear without any traffic jams, even though many transit workers were traveling by Transjakarta.

At the Cawang LRT Station, which will be integrated with the Transjakarta BNN bus stop on Jl. Letjen MT Haryono heading towards Jl. Dewi Sartika, construction workers and several heavy duty vehicles had gathered on the roadside. They were working on several parts of the station entrance.

LRT passengers can use private vehicles or public transportation to reach the station on Jl. Alternatif Cibubur to the east or Jl. Jambore to the west.

Orange traffic barriers still stood along a small section of road to provide space for pedestrians. In this area, traffic congestion is inevitable during the morning and evening rush hours, when people head to and return from work.

The head of the East Jakarta Police traffic unit, Adj. Sr. Comr. Edy Surasa, said congestion formed near the Cawang LRT Station only because of the large volume of vehicles converging from Halim and Indonesian Christian University (UKI) and from the Cikampek Tollgate and Halim airport.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Jabodebek LRT stops at Ciliwung Station when conducting trials on cross-service 2; Cawang-Dukuh Atas, Jakarta, Wednesday (15/3/2023).

Congestion was also caused by uneven repair work on the road, which forced vehicles to slow down, Edy said when contacted on Wednesday (15/3),

Ongoing development of LRT stations in several areas of East Jakarta, according to him, did not contribute to congestion during certain hours in areas with heavy traffic. “Now, there’s no problem with the flow of traffic because the LRT project is, as a whole, 90 percent completed,” he said.

LRT Jabodebek public relations manager Kuswardojo said development of physical infrastructure for the LRT reached 90.52 percent to date. Only finishing touches for stations were left until PT Industri Kereta Api (INKA) delivered two more trains to be added to 29 other trains in the fleet of rolling stock.

Now, there’s no problem with the flow of traffic because the LRT project is, as a whole, 90 percent completed.

“So, some minor jobs are indeed yet to be finished, but they won’t affect the timing of commencing operations this July,” he said.

LRT Jabodebek currently has 18 stations: Dukuh Atas, Setiabudi, Rasuna Said, Kuningan, Pancoran, Cikoko, Ciliwung, Cawang, TMII, Kampung Rambutan, Ciracas, Harjamukti, Halim, Jatibening Baru, Cikunir I, Cikunir II, West Bekasi Barat, and Jati Mulya.

The LRT routes span a total of 44.43 kilometers connecting strategic locations ranging from housing complexes and shopping centers to business areas.

Integrated transportation

When it is complete, the LRT Jabodebek stations will be complemented by intermodal connectivity. This requires the support of local administrations in the LRT’s areas of operation, as well as public transportation operators.

“All [LRT stations] will thus be connected with other means of transportation, including the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail [KCJB], the operation of which is awaited, as it will connect with the LRT station in Halim,” said Kuswardojo.

Connecting the LRT stations with other public transportation networks, he said, would eliminate the need for parking lots where passengers could park their cars. The LRT’s development was in fact aimed at reducing the use of private vehicles.

Also read:

> Jakarta Strives to Reduce Transportation Costs

> Popularizing Public Transportation

“What can be a solution for [public transit] is for people to shift [completely] to using the transportation modes provided by the government. If they go to the stations by car, there will still be traffic jams,” he pointed out.

Kuswardojo also said that the LRT was not designed to solve road congestion, but rather to be the best option to avoid congestion.

The LRT is targeting a daily capacity of 137,000 passengers, served by an operational fleet of a maximum 27 trains, each traversing their routes several times each day. One train consists of 6 cars with that can carry 1,308 passengers.

This rail transportation also offers a much shorter travel time.

“For example, from Harjamukti to Dukuh Atas, the trip can take two hours by [road], but it takes just 37 minutes by the LRT. I’m convinced the public will consider the LRT as their choice,” he added.

This article was translated by Aris Prawira.