Traffic Congestion and Jakarta as Delta City
Traffic congestion does not happen only in
Jakarta. In the long trajectory of urbanization and urban development up to our
current time, many great cities in the
world suffer great loss and share the same social, economic or environmental
problems because of it. Take Tokyo for example. With similar growth and process of modern
urbanization as Jakarta, Tokyo was once
a place of biggest agglomeration in human history; and was timely marked
as city with the most horrific traffic jam in the world. It is however now a
Megalopolitan considered as one of the most wide-covered, efficient mobility in
the world. With long-term studies, measures and planning; each cities struggles
to cope and handle traffic congestion, which often take years even decades. With
currently the longest busway system in the world, the coming MRT network, city
rail expansion, and other projected public transport system – Jakarta has taken
its first few steps towards a much more strategic and efficient transportation
planning. In longer term, as proven in many great examples all over the world,
this will surely lead its way out of the critical condition at which it is now.
As many transportation experts said, when
thinking and planning a long term accessibility/ mobility enhancement, we have to remember that the systemic transportation
and land use cycle is always there. Improvement in accessibility/
transportation modes will increase land value and yields economic and social
improvements, which then invites more
people to come, which creates new urban sprawl, and at some point recreate new
traffic problems. The long term
strategic planning is being used to keep the balance on the cycle, and keep the
problem within bearable level. In
Jakarta case, what we think lacking is the vision for transportation priority
and more systemic solution
that can ease traffic problem;
which optimizing
city’s potential,
give positive environmental/
social impacts, giving minimum
additional load to city’s natural landscape, while bearing a forward
mission towards sustainability.
Being said so, we look into a bigger picture
and think about Jakarta’s major problem
along the time: traffic congestion and seasonal floods. We believe there are
numerous aspects and multidimensional causes of each. Despite of which, we
believe that some also share the same basic causes. What if we can reduce both problems by one
alternative systemic solution? What if while doing so, Jakarta could lift its
natural character and social image? What if, by using and enhance its natural
character – Jakarta could ease its worst problems? These are some of the
backgrounds of what we think is the applicable strategic solution: Bring back and create an integrated
waterways network system within Jakarta Metropolitan area.
Sit in a bay, Jakarta is a delta city of 13
rivers and one of the largest coastal city in Indonesia with over 80,000km long
coastline. 13 rivers cut through the city from South to the North, which by
itself create a widespread North-South lane network all over the city, crossing
slum, CBD, urban settlements and residential, commercial and business center,
all the way to the ports and harbor. Major canals with wide waterbody were
created and functional as some of flood prevention measures. Large scale
normalization and dredging in rivers and dams are ongoing effort for couple of
past years to counter the annual flood. Practically speaking, these existing
waterways and water body are huge potential for creating alternative network.
This is of course not a new approach for Jakarta. There were some previous
trials – even in the recent past to open waterways network for transportation
mode in Jakarta. Two major problems were found: how to deal with garbage or
water quality, and maintaining minimum water level for boats or water taxis.
Both together, with many policy and administration lacks had been putting this
idea away for years.
So why insisting waterways network? First of
all, around 56%[1] of
commuter load in Jakarta today are of those who commute to Central Jakarta and
South Jakarta (North-South). By itself, current major waterways are South-North
lanes; of which now considered as vacant, large inactive voids all over the
city. Secondly, Jakarta suffers severe land subsidence reaching an average 1 to
15cm per year; especially due to high level of groundwater extraction and huge
loads from construction and infrastructures[2].
Instead of adding more loads to the soil, waterbody provide existing lanes
which does not need additional massive structure. Third, limitation of motor
vehicles like motorcycles in arterial/ major roads – or private cars in alleyways
are hard to implement, due to unintegrated land modes, feeder lacks, and
limited North – South ways. Wide coverage of current waterways could become
additional North-South lanes which can
be integrated into main land modes, and create in itself local feeder system
within neighborhood level. Fourth,
rivers and waterbodies are being considered as back of the house, flood source,
city sewerage, or even large garbage bin in Jakarta. Opening more controllable
access to water by opening waterways network will create awareness to water
condition and waste management in the long run.
Integrated
Waterways Network System
Proposed Project: Jakarta
Metropolitan Area Waterways Network
Location: Jakarta City-center[3]
- Wider coverage of public transport system, with controlled feeders.
- Apply water waste management and garbage control as closer to headwaters, to maintain lower sedimentation level downstream.
- Apply bottom-up water sensitive awareness, from the grassroots within neighborhood level, while promotes public transport usage.
- Limit one-passenger vehicles within neighborhood level as much as possible.
First stage
preparation will include parallel processes of:
- Strategic Planning of medium to long term Waterways Network and Waste Water Management System. Medium to long term planning is highly essential to make a comprehensive measure in achieving effective and efficient transportation mode. This process should incorporate multidisciplinary team to conduct complete long term analysis and projection of social, economic, and environmental impacts.
- Technical, including water and geodesic Analysis for West and East Flood Canals, also major North-South lanes[5].
- Technical, including water analysis for Neighborhood Cell Waterways to ensure control over optimum water level for waterways network during the year.
- Dredging, garbage excavation, normalization and waste water treatment plant for Neighborhood Cell Waterways[6].
- Land acquisition and clearance of the riverbanks in Neighborhood Cells.
- Preparation of feeder interchange stations with Dedicated Parking Spaces.
 |
| Graphic a: Major Waterways Network Map |
 |
| Graphic b: Minor Pilot Projects Map |
Neighborhood
Cells planned to be bottom level feeder to the whole network. In the future
development, interchanges are provided to connect this neighborhood cells with
Secondary waterway lane, or land transportation modes like Trans Jakarta or
railways/ MRT. Dedicated parking spaces will be provided on waterway stations
out of walking distance from neighborhoods. This way, more single-passenger
vehicles can be kept out of the primary and secondary road. On the bigger waterway station when direct
interchange is not possible to built, smaller local feeder terminal should be
built to accommodate a limited number of coordinated bajaj, ojek and angkutan kota. These local
feeders can act as local shuttle to nearest Trans Jakarta or railway stations.
This way, fixed price can be implemented to local shuttles.
In the long
run, the expected impacts of this project are:
- Larger, efficient coverage of public transportation within city center
- Possibility of limitation/ prohibition of single-passenger vehicles usage on arterial, primary and secondary road within city center
- Possibility to limit large vehicles usage on main road/ street within district/ neighborhood with waterway lanes
- Higher public awareness and sensitivity towards waterways condition and management
- Integrated and efficient transportation mode within city center
- Uplift waterfront area in district/ neighborhood scale and increase economic value/ commodity along waterfront area
Jakarta. May 2015. Submitted for Jakarta Urban Challenge 2015. In collaboration with Esther Febriana and Iwan Widjaja
[2] Abidin, Hasanuddin Z.
Andreas, Heri. Gumilar, Iwan. Gamal, Mohammad. Fukuda, Yoichi and
Deguchi, T. “Land Subsidence and Urban Development in Jakarta (Indonesia)”, Spatial
Data Serving People: Land Governance and the Environment – Building the
Capacity Hanoi, Vietnam, 19-22 October 2009.
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