| TransJakarta | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Info | |||
| Locale | Jakarta, Indonesia | ||
| Transit type | bus rapid transit | ||
| Number of lines | 11 (operation), 4 (planned) | ||
| Number of stations | 181 | ||
| Daily ridership | 310,000 | ||
| Operation | |||
| Began operation | January 15, 2004 | ||
| Operator(s) | Badan Layanan Umum TransJakarta Busway | ||
| Technical | |||
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TransJakarta is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was the first BRT system in Southern and Southeast Asia. TransJakarta started on January 15, 2004. As of December 28, 2011 there were 11 corridors (or lanes) in operation, with 4 more to be built. TransJakarta was designed to provide Jakarta citizens with a fast public transportation system to help reduce rush hour traffic. The buses run in special lanes, and the ticket prices are subsidized by the regional government. In 2011, TransJakarta carried 114,783,774 passengers or about 310,000 passengers per day, increased by 32 percent from 86,937,287 passengers last year. Subsidy per passenger-ticket was Rp2,901 ($0.29) and for 2012 subsidy predicted is Rp2,114 ($0.21) per passenger-ticket.[1] Currently, TransJakarta has the world's longest BRT routes with 172 km system length and has more than 520 buses in Operation.
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The characteristics of TransJakarta as listed in an Asian Development Bank study were:[2]
The first TransJakarta line opened to the public on January 15, 2004. Following two weeks in which it was free to use, commercial operations started on February 1, 2004. It now carries an average of approximately 250,000 passengers a day.[3]
TransJakarta was built to provide a fast, comfortable, and affordable mass transportation system. To accomplish those objectives, the buses were given lanes restricted to other traffic and separated by concrete blocks on the streets that became part of the busway routes.
There were some initial teething problems, such as when the roof of one of the buses rammed into a railway tunnel. In addition, many buses had technical issues such as broken doors and stop buttons.
In order to promote gender equity, TransJakarta is increasing the number of female driver recruits. The projected proportion is 30% of the total.
The buses run along the following routes:
From January to July 2010 there were 237 accidents involving TransJakarta buses, resulting in 57 injuries and eight deaths. Accidents occurred due to pedestrians crossing the busway and cars making u-turns. In 2011, in an effort to stop non TransJakarta vehicles using the bus lanes, the Jakarta Police Chief suggested that TransJakarta buses should run against the direction of traffic flow.[9] Usually non TransJakarta vehicles used busway lanes during peak hours between 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.[10]
Each bus is constructed with passengers' safety in mind. For example the body frame is constructed using Galvanyl (Zn - Fe Alloy), a strong and rust-resistant metal. There are also eight or ten glass-shattering hammers mounted on some of the window frames, and three emergency doors for fast evacuation during an emergency. There are also two fire extinguisher at the front and back of the buses.
The Mercedes-Benz OH and Hino RG air-conditioned buses are painted red and yellow, with a picture of a young Brahminy Kite, which looks very similar to a bald eagle grasping a tree branch with three snakefruit on it. The buses use special fuel which is (a mix of diesel and biodiesel). For Corridor 2 (bus colors: blue and white) and 3 (bus colors: yellow and red), the buses are CNG-fueled Daewoo buses imported from South Korea. Due to various coachbuilders being involved and design tweaks applied over time, the exterior and interior appearance, quality, and comfort varies from bus to bus operating in the same corridor.
The capacity of each bus is 30 seated and 55 standing passengers, though during rush hours these numbers are often exceeded by up to 80 passengers per bus.
TransJakarta also operates Chinese-made HuangHai and Komodo articulated buses on long and straight corridors, such as Corridor 5.[11]
The passenger doors are higher than on normal buses so that passengers can only board from designated shelters. The doors employ automated folding mechanisms which can be manually controlled by the driver. Because the normal folding doors cannot open properly when the bus is overcrowded, buses on corridors II and III use sliding doors in order to accommodate the surge of passengers during rush hours. Protective full-height acrylic glass barriers are installed behind passenger seats close to the sliding door mechanism.
Seats in all buses face the aisle to optimize passengers' movement during rush hours. Corridor 1 buses use comfortable cushioned bus seats, the buses from subsequent corridors have less cushioned, hence less comfortable, seats.
Each bus is equipped with an electronic board and speakers that announce the name of shelters in two languages, Indonesian and English. Each bus is also equipped with a bi-directional radio transceiver to allow the driver to provide and recaive updated information regarding traffic jams, road accidents or lost items.
To keep the air fresh, especially during rush hours each bus is equipped with automatic air freshener dispensers which periodically spray car fragrance.
In August 2011, TransJakarta operator has installed cameras on one bus for a trial period. The plan is to install 4 cameras on all buses gradually in efforts to improve services such as to inform passengers waiting for buses about how crowded approaching buses are and prevent sexual harassment on its service.[12]
As of November 2011 TransJakarta has 524 buses in operation.
TransJakarta shelter are also different from ordinary bus stops. They are usually located in the middle of the road and are reached by elevated bridges. The stops in front of the well-known Sarinah shopping center on Jl Thamrin in Central Jakarta have lifts.
The shelters are made of from aluminum, steel, and glass. Air ventilation works through fins on the aluminum part of the shelter. Floors are made from tread plate. The doors of shelters open automatically when a bus arrives. Some of the connecting elevated bridge ramps have gentle slopes (with some exceptions) to accommodate the disabled. One disadvantage of some of the ramps is that passengers need to walk a relatively long way up the ramps, and then double back, to reach the boarding shelters. The floors of the bridge are mostly tread plates, although some are made from concrete. One problem with the tread plate is that considerable noise is generated by the movement of passengers across the tread plate surfaces. Another problem is that some of the tread plate surfaces can become very slippery during the rainy season when they become wet. There are no sanitary facilities in most of the shelters.
Bus stops are open from 05:00 – 22:00 although opening hours can be extended if there are passengers still waiting at closing time. Shelters often become extremely overcrowded because of long (and sometimes unpredictable) intervals between buses.
A free daily internal bulletin, 'Trans Kota', is occasionally available at selected shelters. The content includes sport, showbusiness, crime, health, various tips and tricks, consumer information and TransJakarta news.
The large Harmoni Central Busway (HCB) shelter on Jalan Gadjah Mada, Central Jakarta, is built over the Ciliwung River. It is a transit point between Corridors 1, 2, and 3. This 500-person shelter has six doors. Although many trees had to be sacrificed during the construction of it, an old banyan tree was not chopped down because it was considered rich in historical value. However, in October 2006 this tree was vandalized by people from a religious group known as Pemuda Persatuan Islam. Their motive was to show that the tree does not possess supernatural qualities as believed by some people.
The cost of a TransJakarta ticket since initial up to December 2011 is still Rp. 3,500 (about US 40 cents) per trip, or Rp 2,000 ($0.22) at concessional times (05.00a.m. to 07.00a.m.). Passengers who change direction or who transit to another corridor do not need to pay again provided they do not exit the shelter, except at end of the routes.
Passengers first buy a single paper trip ticket. To enter a shelter, passengers show their tickets to an attendant. There are plans to introduce stored value tickets and integrated ticket with Jakarta Commutter Line in 2012.
During rush hours, people from upper or middle classes (one of the main targets of TransJakarta) usually prefer to use private cars or taxis to avoid inconvenience of the overcrowded Transjakarta buses even though they have to bear with traffic jams instead. Many passengers are thus lower middle class people who are ex-users of other less comfortable and/or more expensive commercial buses.
This situation is at odds with one of the initial objectives of TransJakarta which was to reduce traffic jam during rush hours by persuading private car owners to use comfortable public transport.
There is a special program for the student groups called Transjakarta goes to school. Participants in program there are assigned a dedicated bus. The aim is to train students to stand in line, be decent, and prefer public transport than personal vehicles.
There are eleven corridors[13] :
Planned corridors are:
