Traffic Congestion Reduced

The odd-even policy is being implemented at the East Bekasi and West Bekasi tollgates concurrently with a ban on trucks of categories 3, 4 and 5 and public transportation vehicles such as buses.

Kompas/Riza Fathoni

Several cars with odd license plate numbers attempting to drive to Jakarta through the West Bekasi toll gate are told to make a U-turn on the first day of the odd-even traffic policy on the Cikampek toll road on Monday (12/3). TransJabodetabek buses have become an alternative for commuters unable to drive on the toll road because of the traffic policy imposed from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on weekdays

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The severe traffic jams that were expected on alternative routes from Bekasi to Jakarta, in the wake of the implementation of the odd-even license plate number policy at the East Bekasi and West Bekasi tollgates on the Cikampek toll road, did not occur on Monday (12/3). The number of vehicles passing through the two tollgates had reportedly decreased by 30 percent to 38 percent.

“As a whole, the policy has reduced the number of vehicles [entering the tollgates] by 35 percent on average, or 2,783 vehicles in the three hours since the rule was applied,” Jakarta-Cikampek general manager Raddy R Lukman of state toll road operator PT Jasa Marga said on Monday. The odd-even policy applies on the two tollgates from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

The odd-even policy is being implemented concurrently with a ban on trucks of categories 3, 4 and 5 and public transportation vehicles such as buses.

Bekasi transportation agency chief Yayan Yuliana said that he was worried that bottlenecks would occur on major thoroughfares following the policy’s implementation. “As it turned out, [traffic] was smooth. There might have been a slight increase, but it was still reasonable. Generally, the traffic condition was normal,” Yayan said. The agency deployed 250 personnel to guide motorists on the odd-even system.

Motorists experienced increased traffic on alternative routes to Jakarta. Haryono, 55, a resident of Kemang Pratama in Bekasi, said that the queue took longer at the Jatiasih tollgate on his way to his workplace on Jl. TB Simatupang, South Jakarta.

Smoother traffic

During the hours when the odd-even policy was applied, motorists said that traffic on the toll road was smoother. “Usually, traffic locks up the moment I got through Halim toll road. Now, it’s smoother,” said Pekayon resident Agung, 54.

It took him 30 minutes less to reach his office on Jl. MH Thamrin through the Semanggi area. Traffic was relatively smooth at the West Bekasi tollgate on Monday morning, when traffic cleared in a matter of minutes. Similarly smooth traffic was also reported at the East Bekasi tollgate.

Raddy said that the significant reduction in traffic was the result of several factors. Toll road users had three options: switching to alternative routes, adjusting their travel schedule or changing transportation modes.

PT Jasa Marga’s data showed that the number of vehicles passing the West Bekasi 1 tollgate was less than usual from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. On Monday, 1,820 vehicles passed through the tollgate, 30 percent less than on usual days, which typically saw 2,600 vehicles.

Meanwhile, 1,545 vehicles passed through the East Bekasi 2 tollgate on Monday morning, 35.6 percent less than 2,400 on usual days.

The ban on category 3, 4 and 5 trucks resulted in a 70 percent decrease in the number of trucks in these categories using the Cikarang Utama tollgate heading to Cikampek, as well as a 64 percent decrease in the number of trucks in these categories at tollgates heading to Jakarta.

“The implementation of the policy package on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road has generally smoothed traffic in both directions on the toll road. The reduction in traffic was relatively significant,” Raddy said.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

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Multiple scenarios

Urban planning expert Yayat Supriyatna said that traffic jams should not be addressed with just a single scenario. Toll road managers must work together with relevant stakeholders to map out the roots of traffic congestion and then come up with strategies together.

The first thing to be addressed was logistics vejivles. “Can logistics transport be served by special roads or at specific hours? Logistics transport is a major cause of traffic jams because of their slower speed. On toll roads, vehicles must travel between 80 and 100 kilometers per hour. Logistics transport can only travel from 30 to 40 kilometers per hour. Could there be a time allocation?” Yayat said.

Information on public transportation rates and routes must also be disseminated continuously. Greater Jakarta Transportation Agency (BPTJ) chief Bambang Prihartono said that the agency would conduct weekly evaluations.

(DD17/DD12/HLN)