Govt Readies Traffic Engineering Scenarios

KOMPAS/NIKSON SINAGA

The Kelud motorized boat serving the Jakarta-Batam-Medan route arrives at the Deli passenger terminal of Belawan Port, Medan, North Sumatra, Tuesday (28/5/2019). The vessel transported 3,071 passengers, an increase from 1,000 passengers on ordinary days. The number of Kelud boat passengers during the mudik (exodus) season is estimated to increase 20 percent compared to last year because it has become an alternative mode of transportation given rising airfares. There is no increase in the prices of state shipping company Pelni\'s tickets during Idul Fitri this year.

The government is preparing several scenarios to tackle potential traffic jams on the Trans-Java toll road and the northern coastal (Pantura) highway. Traffic police have been authorized to use their discretion in the field.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The government is preparing several scenarios to tackle potential traffic jams on the Trans-Java toll road and the northern coastal (Pantura) highway. Traffic during the mudik (exodus) travel season is expected to peak from May 30 (six days before Idul Fitri) to June 2 (three days before Idul Fitri).

To reduce congestion on the Trans-Java toll road, the National Police traffic unit will implement a one-way traffic control system from Kilometer Marker (KM) 70 to KM 263 and a contraflow system from KM 29 to KM 61 on the Cikampek toll road section. The systems will be in place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 30-June 2.

Furthermore, the government will set up additional rest areas on the Trans-Java toll road and apply discounts to all toll roads on May 27-29. The government will also limit access to freight trucks from May 30 to June 2.

National Police traffic unit chief Insp. Gen. Refdi Andri said that if traffic jams persisted, traffic police would apply case-by-case traffic engineering according to actual conditions on toll roads and highways during mudik and post-Idul Fitri travel.

“Various schemes can be implemented, including a ‘keep going’ scheme, traffic diversions and others. However, we need to ready clear signs and instructions for such schemes,” Refdi said on Tuesday (28/5/2019) at the Kompas Tower in Jakarta, following the send-off ceremony for the Kompas Gramedia 2019 mudik team.

Kompas has observed that major congestion points on the Trans-Java toll road include the Cikunir Interchange at KM 10, where traffic flows from the Jakarta Outer Ring Road (JORR) and the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road meet.

Tollgates like the Cikampek Utama, Palimanan, Kali Kangkung, Banyumanik, Waru Gunung and Sidoarjo are also prone to congestion.

“Policies in the field will be based on analysis, observation and evaluation. Let’s say traffic is backed up three to five kilometers, then a contraflow system will be implemented. If congestion persists, the one-way system will be applied,” said Refdi.

Aside from the Cikunir Interchange and tollgates, congestion could also occur at rest areas. The KM 19, KM 39 and KM 57 rest areas on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road, along with rest areas on the Palimanan-Kanci (Palikanci) toll road, were deemed prone to congestion.

“When the number of vehicles entering a rest area exceeds capacity, traffic jams may occur,” said Agus Hartoyo, the Palikanci toll road traffic service manager of state toll road operator PT Jasa Marga.

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

Officers prepare temporary refueling stations around a rest area on the Pemalang-Pejagan toll road, Brebes regency, Central Java, Monday (27/5/2019). The stations are provided in a number of rest areas along the trans-Java toll road during the mudik (exodus) travel season.

Rest areas

During last year’s Idul Fitri holiday season, more than 900 vehicles queued to enter a rest area that had a parking capacity for only 700 vehicles.

Agus said that Jasa Marga would limit entry to and temporary close rest areas on the Palikanci toll road in cooperation with the National Police. “We will inform motorists to stay at rest areas for a maximum of one hour. Rest areas will be reopened once it has space for 50 additional vehicles,” he said.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said there were concerns that the one-way scheme from KM 70 to KM 263 would cause higher traffic density on the northern coastal highway. However, Budi said that the highway was in good condition and able to accommodate vehicles exiting tollgates.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Vehicles pass through the Cikampek main toll gate on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road section on Monday (27/5/2019). The toll gate will be the starting point for the implementation of the one-way traffic control system during the mudik (exodus) travel season (30/5).

Alternative routes

Budi Karya reaffirmed that traffic would be diverted to several alternative routes whenever the Pantura highway became congested. Traffic police would be standing by to anticipate congestion near public markets. “The strategies will be dynamic in line with conditions in the field,” Budi said.

The ministry’s director general of land transportation, Budi Setiyadi, said that congestion on the Pantura highway might occur as a result of implementing the one-way system from Cikampek to Brebes. Traffic jams may occur in Palimanan, Losarang and Patrol from Brebes to Jakarta.

“Congestion might be caused by traditional markets and large vehicles like buses and trucks that cannot enter the toll road because of the one-way system. However, these traffic jams will not obstruct buses from getting to Jakarta,” Budi said.

Regarding the concerns of bus operators on the impact of the one-way system on buses heading to Jakarta, the ministry had ordered bus operators to ready reserve buses. “We have asked all bus operators to prepare five to ten reserve buses at several terminals,” said Budi.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

Family members of customers of Bank BRI participate in the mudik (exodus) travel service to cities in Java from the Bung Karno Stadium Complex (GBK), Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday (28/5/2019). In addition to providing free travel services for its customers in Jabodetabek (Greater Jakarta area), this year Bank BRI will also send home foreign heroes, namely migrant workers who are BRIFast Remittance customers from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Japan. Up to 15,000 customers of Bank BRI will take part in the 15th mudik travel service.

Earlier, Indonesian Young Bus Entrepreneurs Association (IPOMI) chair Kurnia Lesani Adnan said that bus companies had prepared a reserve fleet to anticipate delays. However, the operators also asked the government to provide traffic engineering measures for buses.

“If possible, a contraflow scheme must be applied to the toll roads specifically for buses,” he said.

Cirebon Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Suhermanto said that vehicles would be diverted to alternative routes if the Pantura highway was congested in Cirebon.

Traditional spilled markets

Suhermanto said that the police would relocate traders and becak (pedicab) drivers at itinerant markets (pasar tumpah) in Tegalgubung, Palimanan, Weru, Gebang and Losari for smooth traffic flow during the holiday season. “Seven days before Idul Fitri, or on May 30, no traders and becak drivers will be [permitted] on the roadside,” he said.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto (left, foreground), Jakarta Governor Anis Baswedan (second left) and National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian (third left) talk with members of the Operasi Ketupat 2019 security squad at a rally in Monas area, Jakarta, Tuesday (28/5/2019). The rally that was attended by 2,900 TNI and police personnel was part of the preparations for maintaining security for the Idul Fitri celebration, including during the mudik (exodus) travel season.

Transportation expert Sony Sulaksono of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) said that pasar tumpah would contribute to traffic jams on the Pantura highway during this year’s Idul Fitri holiday season. The government should relocate several pasar tumpah on the highway to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

Sony said that applying the one-way system on the Trans-Java toll road would not significantly increase the volume of vehicles on the Pantura highway. The number of vehicles heading to Jakarta on the highway would not be very high during mudik. (SKA/DIV/AIN/DVD/HRS/IKI/XTI/SYA/JUM/VIO/MEL/ILO)