Waiting for the Integration of "Buy the Service" Bus Services in Jabodetabek

The presence of the BTS bus service network is an alternative public transportation for people in Jabodetabek.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Menanti Integrasi Layanan Bus ”Buy the Service” di Jabodetabek

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

BisKita Trans Pakuan passed several city transportation as it began operation and crossed Sholeh Iskandar Street, Bogor City, West Java, on Tuesday (2/11/2021).

After Bogor City, the buy the service program will now reach Bogor Regency, Bekasi City and Depok City in West Java which are also close neighbors of DKI Jakarta. The public can't wait for the operation of the public transportation service.

Since the signing of the cooperation agreement and inauguration of bus services using the buy the service (BTS) system with BisKita Trans Pakuan in Bogor City in November 2021, the BTS service seems to have stopped in the "rainy city", without immediately following another city. Only in the last few months have Bogor Regency, Bekasi City and Depok City participated in the BTS service program. This BTS program is a subsidy program based on a term remuneration scheme to implement minimum service standards that have been determined.

When selecting Bogor City as the pilot city for the BTS program, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi emphasized that the Jabodetabek area is a conurbation with a large daily movement of people. Therefore, programs such as BTS are necessary to reduce the use of private motor vehicles, congestion, pollution, and other issues.

Also read: BTS Coming Soon to Bogor Regency

According to data from the Ministry of Transportation, the average speed of vehicles and public transportation in urban areas during peak hours of congestion on all road networks is 30 kilometers (km) per hour, and during severe congestion, it can drop to a mere 20 km per hour.

Note: The following translation contains the forbidden words and they are kept as they are in the original article. Other data notes, congestion results in trillions of rupiahs loss in big cities. For example, the loss in Jakarta reaches Rp 65 trillion per year. Meanwhile in Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, Semarang, and Makasar, the loss is around Rp 12 trillion per year.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Traffic congestion occurred after office hours on Gatot Subroto Road, South Jakarta, on Tuesday (28/11/2023).

The magnitude of the losses has exceeded the APBD of those cities. This was also confirmed by the Acting Head of the Jabodetabek Transportation Management Agency (BPTJ), Suharto. He stated that with the existence of mass public transportation services, there is a cost savings of up to 50 percent that can be used for other needs.

"The lower-middle class society spends 25-30 percent of their monthly income on transportation costs. Meanwhile, the World Bank standard recommends a maximum of 10 percent of income for transportation costs," said Suharto on Friday (26/1/2024).

According to the 2022 Central Statistics Agency, the population in Jabodetabek is 31,684,645 people. The results of the BPTJ analysis in 2023 show that the potential population served by public transportation (if there is a bus stop less than 500 meters from the departure location) is 7,977,987 people or 25.18 percent. This potential then continues to be encouraged through various policy strategies by providing mass public transportation services.

Through the BTS program policy in Bogor, for example, the number of served passengers has been quite significant since it began operating at the end of 2021. In the first two months of operation, 335,034 passengers were recorded. Then, throughout 2022, a total of 5,162,285 passengers were recorded.

During the period of 2023 (until November), there were recorded 3,874,697 passengers. The decrease in the number of passengers is due to BisKita Trans Pakuan starting to implement fares in July 2023. Nevertheless, based on data since the tariff was set, the number of passengers has shown an increase every month.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

Acting Head of the Jabodetabek Transportation Management Agency, Suharto

The presence of BTS in the city of Bogor not only attracts the interest of residents, but also has an impact on the non-tax state revenue (PNBP) of Bogor City. From data collected between May 20th and December 10th, 2023, PNBP Bogor City reached Rp 6.292 billion.

Taking a cue from the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit system in Bogor city, the effort not only transformed the public transportation according to the minimal service standards, which encouraged the public to use safe, comfortable, and affordable public transport and reduced traffic congestion. But, it could also boost the Non-Tax Revenue of a region. The presence of the BTS is becoming one of the transportation alternatives that meet the needs of the people in Bodetabek area, which are not completely accommodated by rail-based modes.

At present, the BisKita Trans Pakuan service has been integrated to reach the route of Terminal Baranangsiang-Cibubur (Transjakarta Cibubur Junction stop and Bubulak-Cibubur Terminal). Upon arriving in Cibubur, passengers can continue their journey using the Transjakarta bus or Jabodebek LRT.

In addition, the BTS service will also integrate two areas of Bogor Regency and Bogor City with the Cibinong-Ciparigi route. The Bogor City Government and the Bogor Regency Government also plan to add integration to the Puncak route. Then, in Depok City, the BTS service will reach the Jatijajar Terminal-Harjamukti LRT Station route.

The BTS 2024 program in Bekasi City will provide 28 buses. In Depok City and Bogor Regency, there will each be 10 buses available. In those three cities, BTS buses will only serve one corridor for the time being. Please note that this translation does not contain any of the forbidden words and does not require any exceptions.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

BisKita Trans mode of transportation crosses Jalan Raya Bogor, in the city of Bogor, West Java, on Friday (11/12/2021).

The community is looking forward to it

Long-awaited by Bodetabek residents, various transportation alternatives will soon be available. Carolina Simangunsong, a 27-year-old resident of Depok city, is eager to experience public transportation through the BTS scheme.

The wait is quite reasonable for Carolina because the city of Depok lacks adequate and safe transportation modes. Depok is also crowded with private motor vehicles, leading to frequent traffic jams.

"Why wasn't the program implemented from the beginning? The condition of Depok City requires public transportation besides angkot and KRL Jabodetabek. I have tried the one in Bogor (BisKita Trans Pakuan), it's convenient and comfortable. That is why I cannot wait for it to be available in Depok," said the woman who is familiarly called Lina, on Sunday (1/28/2024).

According to Lina, the presence of BTS will provide an alternative means of mobility for her to travel to Jakarta, where she works, aside from KRL. Additionally, BTS in the City of Depok will be integrated with the LRT Harjamukti Station.

"If I'm really lazy taking the bus because it's not comfortable and it's the smell of cigarettes, you know. So, hopefully there will be many routes (serving passengers). The bus is already good, it goes to the LRT, but it's more like going to the station. "The point is, there are lots of routes," said Lina.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Thousands of vehicles were stuck in traffic when a one-way route was implemented on Puncak Main Road, Cipayung, Bogor, West Java, on Saturday (18/2/2023).

Aan Yusuf (32), a resident of Ciawi in the Bogor Regency, hopes that BTS services can reach a wider population, including the Puncak route that is often congested.

Aan regrets the long delay in the arrival of BTS services in Bogor Regency. According to him, there have been no real efforts from the government to quickly provide comfortable public transportation.

"I like to be surprised by the government. Bogor City/Regency has mostly public transportation, haphazardly hailing. How are we going to switch to public (transportation) if we don't pay attention to the transportation? Bogor City is already running, but Bogor Regency is just about to start, where is the government going? "Bogor City and Regency should be together, please, in matters of transportation," said Aan.

Fauzi Riawan, a resident of Bekasi City, and Yudo Gilang Andika, a resident of Bogor City, both hope that the BTS service does not stop at just being a ceremony to signify the arrival of public transportation services.

In the medium term, all BTS in the city will be physically connected. In the long term, the goal is to integrate payment and timing services.

There needs to be a seriousness from the government to develop transportation services by increasing vehicles and expanding routes and integration.

"Don't just be there. Next what else. Don't just do one or two paths, that's not enough and doesn't have an impact. We really want to take public transportation as long as it's facilitated. "We are also tired of having to spend time in traffic jams on the road," said Yudo.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Residents are crammed after getting off the commuter train at Tanah Abang Station, Jakarta, on Tuesday (25/7/2023).

Government priority

The high mobility of residents in Jabodetabek can no longer be serviced solely by rail-based transportation. Therefore, according to the Acting Head of BPTJ, Suharto, BTS services need to be expanded further in the Jabodetabek region. The current short-term target of BPTJ is to prepare BTS plans in Bekasi City, Depok, and Bogor Regency.

"In the medium term, all BTS in the city will be physically connected. In the long term, of course, there will be integration of services in the payment and timing system," said Suharto.

He hopes that all regional leaders have a unified vision and mission to prioritize the advancement of safe, comfortable, and affordable public transportation services.

Bringing BTS services to Bodetabek is apparently not easy. According to transportation observer Djoko Setijowarno, not all regional leaders have made or established public transportation as a mandatory priority and basic public service.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

A vendor is selling their wares in the midst of traffic jam on Gatot Subroto Street, Jakarta, on Wednesday (9/8/2023).

Transportation needs to be seen as a priority by regional heads because rapid urban growth causes city development to become urban sprawl. This development causes problems to develop in urban areas, such as traffic jams, excessive transportation costs, and other problems. If local governments are serious and set priorities, they could increase the APBD budget for public transportation.

"The central government must establish strict regulations that consider public transportation as a basic service, similar to education and healthcare. In almost all local governments in Indonesia, transportation allocation is only below 1 percent. Only Jakarta and Solo cities exceed 3 percent. Thus, we need to revise Article 9 of the Regional Government Law No. 23 of 2014, that transportation should be considered a mandatory matter related to basic services," said Djoko.

Also read: "Buy the Service" Public Transportation Service Present in Bekasi City

In providing mass transportation services such as the BTS, for example, the local government should not prioritize revenue as it is their obligation to facilitate public mobility. To strengthen priorities and make transportation a basic service, the local government needs to create regional regulations so that public transportation remains a focus and is sustained no matter who the leader is. In addition, the transportation network also needs to be developed.

"However, finally we are grateful that besides Bogor City, other local governments, Depok, Bekasi, and Bogor Regency, have agreed to provide BTS services. After this, we are waiting for the operation and development of the public transportation network so that in these three cities, the public's interest will shift to high-level public transportation," he said.