Jakarta’s traffic congestion problem has reached alarming levels. The Indonesian capital now ranks as the seventh most congested city in the world for 2024, a troubling rise that puts a spotlight on an issue that has plagued the city for years. With Pramono Anung and Rano Karno set to lead as the new Governor and Deputy Governor of Jakarta, many are asking: what is their plan to ease this never-ending gridlock?
INRIX, a U.S.-based traffic data analysis firm, revealed that in 2023, Jakarta was the tenth most congested city globally. However, in just one year, the situation has worsened. According to INRIX’s latest study, drivers in Jakarta lost up to 89 hours annually due to traffic jams, a staggering 37% increase from 2023’s 65 hours. This paints a bleak picture of a city where traffic is getting slower and travel times are becoming painfully longer.
The average driving speed in Jakarta’s city center is only about 13 miles (20 km) per hour, according to INRIX. This congestion problem is linked to the growing number of vehicles on the roads. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that Jakarta’s vehicle population increased from 19.8 million in 2019 to 22.9 million in 2023.
Motorcycles are the biggest contributors, accounting for 79.6% of the total vehicles, with a growth rate of 14.9% over the past five years. This highlights the heavy reliance on two-wheelers as a primary mode of transportation in the city. Passenger cars are the second-largest category, growing by 15.9% during the same period.
So, what are Pramono Anung’s strategies for dealing with this issue? Pramono believes that the key to reducing congestion and pollution lies in changing people’s habits by encouraging them to switch from private vehicles to public transportation.
“This is extremely important. To support this, we will extend free rides on MRT and LRT services to the same 15 groups that currently receive free access to Transjakarta buses,” he announced during the third Jakarta gubernatorial debate on Sunday, November 17, 2024.
This initiative is one of his top priorities for his first 100 days in office. For commuters from Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek) who work in the city, Pramono plans to create ‘Ride and Park’ areas to ensure smoother connectivity. This will be achieved by expanding the Jaklingo network, which integrates various modes of public transportation.
With this plan, people traveling to Jakarta from nearby regions will find it easier to switch to public transport. Pramono highlighted that Transjakarta is currently connected to 86% of other public transport systems but has a utility rate of only 25%.
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He pointed out that in other major cities like Singapore, the utility rate for public transport exceeds 48%. Pramono aims to boost Transjabodetabek’s utility rate to at least 35%. “If Jakarta can reach even 35%, that would be fantastic,” he said in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.
Despite these ambitious plans, challenges remain. According to the Jakarta Provincial Council (DPRD), government efforts to promote public transportation have not yet produced the desired results. Many residents from Bodetabek still rely on private vehicles for their daily commute to Jakarta.
Wa Ode Herlina, Secretary of Commission B of the Jakarta DPRD, noted that motorcycle usage dominates with 88 million trips per day, while public transportation accounts for only 18.45% of daily commutes.
While the government has a crucial role in tackling Jakarta’s traffic congestion, these initiatives will only succeed if the public is willing to change their commuting habits. The effectiveness of Pramono’s ambitious strategies will depend not just on policy but also on public cooperation and awareness.
