A CITY IN MOTION: CEO Interview: Agung Wicaksono REDEFINING MOBILITY President Director of PT Transportasi IN Jakarta

By Shoeb Kagda

Photo: Transportasi Jakarta

What makes a city livable? Green spaces, walkability, cleanliness, affordability are all important factors but most city dwellers will rank mobility high on the list. A good transportation system has direct benefts to people, businesses, the environment and the overall economy. It is no secret that Jakarta has struggled with traffc gridlock for nearly two decades. ’s capital city has many charms but unfortunately visitors often mention being stuck in traffc as the defning experience of their visit and locals simply shrug their shoulders and grit their teeth. But that does not mean no efforts have been made to fnd a solution. In fact last year, the TransJakarta busway celebrated its 15th anniversary of serving the city. The frst (BRT) system in Asia, TransJakarta has redefned public transportation and changed public attitudes towards taking the bus. Choking in Traffic: Financial and Human Costs

Fuel wasted per year IDR 28.1 trillion

Time wasted per year IDR 36.9 trillion

Total loss IDR 65 trillion

Source: JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) reports for Jabodetabek Integrated Transportation Masterplan

As noted by Gustavo Petro, the Columbian politician and mayor of Bogota, a developed country is not where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation. “We need to see That is the aim of Agung Wicaksono, the dynamic president director of PT Transportasi Jakarta or infrastructure more popularly known as Transjakarta. Having been in the job for three months, Agung has ambitious as a way of plans not just for Transjakarta but the overall public transportation system in Jakarta. He wants to move changing mindsets public transportation in the greater Jakarta region up several notches. and culture. “Before 2004, we had public transport 1.0 as Jakarta was served by privately owned transport Indonesians companies. With Transjakarta we entered 2.0 with a government operated public transport system.” travelling to Japan In 2014, the company was converted into a PT (limited liability company) and growth accelerated. “It and Singapore do was at that time that we entered the era of transport 3.0 as we increased the number of buses from 300 not mind taking to 900,” notes Agung. Last year, Transjakarta buses carried 190 million passengers along 13 corridors and public transport 160 routes. During the Asian Games, daily passenger traffc hit a record of 720,000 but Agung believes there so they will also is much more capacity still untapped. The plan is to increase the number of routes to 160 and the number be open to using of corridors to 15, thus covering a much larger area of the city. public transport at “We need to see infrastructure as a way of changing mindsets and culture,” notes Agung. “Indonesians home if the service travelling to Japan and Singapore do not mind taking public transport so they will also be open to using meets the right public transport at home if the service meets the right standards.” standards.”

INTEGRATION The success of a great public transport system is Agung Wicaksono President Director of PT highly dependent on how well it is integrated with other Transportasi Jakarta “As noted by Gustavo Petro, the Columbian politician and mayor of Bogota, a developed country is not where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation.”

transport systems so as to provide a seamless service than 600 units are already operating,” says Agung. to its users. To this end, Transjakarta is working “Drivers have regular income which is higher than the towards integrating the busway system to the soon to minimum wage and passengers have a safer ride.” be launched Jakarta MRT and LRT as well as to local While still subsidized by the government, PT private transport vehicles called Angkots. Transjakarta is exploring additional non-fare revenue Transjakarta is currently studying all its routes streams to boost its bottom-line. This includes to ensure that there are enough routes to ferry advertising on buses; providing telecommunication passengers from their homes and offces to the services; naming rights on bus-stops and allowing for nearest MRT station and the introduction of an retail stores at its major hubs. electronic payment system that uses only one card Other plans include introducing electric buses and across all the various public transport systems. minivans to reduce the carbon footprint and expansion Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan has also into non-urban areas. recently launched Jaklinko to integrate the Angkots It has been a longtime coming but public to the busway to create a more professionally run and transportation is starting to redefne mobility in the operated system. With Jaklinko, Angkots will need to Indonesian capital. The roads may still be clogged with meet certain minimum standards to be certifed and traffc but now commuters have a choice that offers owner Cooperative will be paid a monthly regulator fee. them comfort and convenience. Passengers will ride for free. “Governor Anies wants to make Jakartans proud to “The system has been transformational as more take public transport,” he says. “I have to make it cool to ride the bus or the train.”

190 million total passengers

Last year, Transjakarta buses carried 190 million passengers along 13 corridors and 160 routes.