MRT in Jakarta, please!

Indonesia
January 11, 2011 4:16am CST
Seriously, Jakarta needs MRT badly. Public transportation in Jakarta is so bad that even a month ago I remember one day after raining hard, it took me about two hours to get home and some of my friends even went through four hours. Busway just not an effective solution for the traffic because it only loads really small people and many drivers took the busway lane especially in the peak hours. MRT is a very good solution because lots of people can be loaded into the trains at once and it is located underground so it won't add traffic to the street. What do you think the best solution?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@de_toya (2429)
• Indonesia
12 Jan 11
I have a doubt if MRT could solve traffic problem in Jakarta. As short-term solution, perhaps MRT is right as well as busway. Actually, busway is not solution because it took part of the road. This make the road increasingly narrow while number of vehicles through the road tends to increase from year to year. MRT could be another solution to brake the traffic jam. However, if the main problem is not solved, MRT will be no longer solve the traffic problem. From year to year, the population of Jakarta increased significantly this make Jakarta very very crowded. Government should spread the development so people won't go to Jakarta anymore. Eliminate fuel subsidies for private vehicles is another solution to limit the sum of private vehicles. If this policy is taken and representative public transportation system is available, I think traffic problem in Jakarta will be solved.
1 person likes this
• Indonesia
29 Jan 11
I do think it is a long term solution, but other plans might also be implemented as well, like you said maybe limit the amount of private vehicles. Busway is only short term solution since it actually use the public road whilst MRT lane is underground which will not add traffic in Jakarta, but it should have many lanes and not only serve just one destination, plus there must be feeder to each station. In foreign countries, even people with high level authorities use regular public transportation. I am sure if people can travel comfortably using public transportation, people will abandon their vehicles
@jhartana (1084)
• Australia
11 Jan 11
I agreed that Jakarta should have MRT instead of busway. I think it was stupid for a former Jakarta governor to decide to create busway instead of MRT. Yes I know it costs whole lot more but he fails to see the long term effect and benefit. MRT should've been done a decade ago but they chose not to implement it. They can say it costs a lot of money but they are doing corruption themselves and costing our country a fortune. If this sums up, it will be way more than the cost of establishing MRT network itself. There is also another issue with MRT, even if MRT network can be established, the question is who will be maintaining it? Yes it looks good and modern and something that people of Jakarta can rely on when first opened but the way Indonesians are conducting maintenance is very appalling. Indonesia should follow the way things are maintained beautifully by going to their neighboring country Singapore. If Indonesia can follow Singapore then Jakarta will someday like Singapore. But it's just the dream and Indonesia will not achieve it as long as corruption still exist.
1 person likes this
• Indonesia
12 Jan 11
It is a stupid decision to implement busway, but since we already have it, even the government could not maximize its potential. For example, they just operate the new routes while all the bus stops has been built two years ago. As a result they must renovates the bus stops and roads again because lots of the equipment or facility being robbed or stolen. It just seems there's no real planning from the government to seriously fix the traffic problem. You raise a good point in the MRT maintenance. As far as I see the MRT in Singapore and Hongkong are the best MRT. They keep it clean and fast. I am not actually sure we could maintain our MRT to the highest standard given that our low discpline in maintaining things. I just hope that the passengers and the government increase their awareness to use the facility properly.
@youless (112100)
• Guangzhou, China
11 Jan 11
From a TV program, I learned that the traffic jam is serious in Jakarta. And therefore, you are right that Jakarta needs MRT. It is very convenient for more people and this is a nice public traffic. At least you don't have to worry about the terrible traffic. So far we have about 5 MRT lines here and there are still three MER lines are under construction. I love China
• Indonesia
12 Jan 11
Hi youless, yeah it is a serious problem in Jakarta (besides flood, but that only happens in rainy season). Jakarta badly needs MRT because currently there are around 27 million people live here and our road cannot accomodate it. Hopefully we can soon realize this MRT.
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
11 Jan 11
hmm...why i think MRT in jakarta is impossible things??
• Indonesia
12 Jan 11
It is not impossible since actually Fauzi Bowo actually planned it to be realized in 2016. i know it is still a long time from now, but let's be optimistic. Just hope the plan will not be abandoned like monorail. It's ugly as hell to see all those monorail pillars at Kuningan, really ruin the road estethics
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
12 Jan 11
i know it but i think jakarta had a long time to make MRT...
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
12 Jan 11
Even as an Indonesian, I hate Jakarta's traffics. Luckily I live in Bali. Jakarta has bus-way now, still need a real genius to re-arrange the infrastructure Almost all big cities in Indonesia needs to re-arrange their infrastructure. I guess we developed so much without some people thinking about how to develop a city nicely.
• Indonesia
30 Jan 11
Hi jennyze, I just visited Bali two weeks ago for the first time ever about two weeks ago. It is a very nice city with almost no traffic except Kuta, Legian or Seminyak since it is tourist area which makes it very crowded. I just wish Jakarta is like Bali, more laid back and not crowded like now. It is actually a good plan to move the capital from Jakarta to another place, it will make Jakarta less congested
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
31 Jan 11
Ah, I wish we could meet in Bali. Bali is starting to grow now, I just hope it won't be like Jakarta nowadays. Lots of concern to move the capital somewhere else, one of it is sentimental feeling.
• Philippines
11 Jan 11
try to have it step by step first like having proper bus stops and correct number of buses for the people. also having the proper route and discipline among the people in following traffic rules will help. can take singapore for an example
• Indonesia
30 Jan 11
yes it is a good solution, problem is the government official maybe too busy to make themselves rich than to organize the city. I really hope the young generation can make the city better. Thanks for the response
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
11 Jan 11
i totally agree with you... the traffic jam problem in jakarta is already so bad and we definitely need a better public transport system desperately like MRT system... but i don't think this can be accomplish easily especially if the corruption problems haven't been completely solved yet... i can only wait and see what the government will do to solve this transport problem... take care and have a nice day...
• Indonesia
12 Jan 11
Yeah, I imagine there will be many politics and corruption in the MRT system, even when the construction process has not even started. In the tender process, there must be money politics which might blowup later in the process. I just hope since MRT has been implemented, transportation in jakarta will be much more lessen because people will switch from driving their car to MRT. Busway has not lured people yet to do this.
@zenkey23 (416)
• Philippines
11 Jan 11
OUCH! I feel pity for the incident that have happened to you. Well thats what you call a "BAD DAY" right? hehe^_^ Almost all of the people in the world experience that especially when raining :) But base on your topic. YOur problem is about the transportation so i agree that JAKARTA[in your place] is surely need a MRT so that people will not be worried and be annoyed when raining or when you are on a emergency or something very important. I wish your government will alow what you have said. I am also concerned to you and your citizens. Happy myLotting and enjoy sharing your experiences and thoughts ^_^
• Indonesia
12 Jan 11
It's truly a bad day zenkey, but even it usually takes minimum an hour to go home from offices, if your house located at the suburban areas far from the center of the city, it would even take two hour plus just to arrive home. Trust me, it's that bad in Jakarta. Yes, the drainage need to be fixed in Jakarta, even the main business street in town are quickly flooded when it's actually just a small rain. Thanks for the response :)