Toll road readiness: Homecoming and Trans-Java euphoria
This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.
Bisnis Indonesia: Kesiapan Jalan Tol: Mudik dan Euforia Trans-Jawa
29 May 2019
By: Rivki Maulana
People living in Java can now fulfil their Lebaran homecoming tradition through the toll road that connects Jakarta and Surabaya. A travel time of 9 hours is no longer impossible.
People has been interested in using the Trans-Java toll road since last year. Even though it is not fully connected yet, homecoming travellers can cross the toll road that is being opened functionally. Slowly but surely, the Pantura toll road is just nostalgia. On the other hand, Trans-Java is a euphoria.
Realising the surging interests, stakeholders, starting from regulators and operators have started an early preparation. A coordination meeting regarding the implementation of homecoming was held in January 2019 or 6 months before the commencement.
Surely we do not want to repeat the bad experience during Lebaram 2016. Still fresh in memory, the long traffic jam at the Brebes tollgate which caused casualties. The incident was then remembered as the “Brexit Tragedy”.
In 2017 – 2018, homecoming implementation experienced an improvement, supported by the improving coordination among agencies and better road infrastructure quality as well as additional capacity from new toll roads operation.
Increase in vehicle speed and lower number of accidents during 2018 homecoming had become the two parameters to set a better report this year.
The Ministry of Transportation announced that the average vehicle speed in the 2018 homecoming reached 72 kilometres per hour or an increase of 9% compared to 2017. For the return flow in 2018, the average speed increased 22% to 79 kilometres per hour.
On the other hand, the trend of accidents decreased. The Indonesian National Police recorded that the number of accidents during the 2018 Ketupat Operation (7 June to 15 June 2019) decreased by 17% to 1,154 cases. The number of casualties had also decreased by 44% to 242 casualties.
PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk becomes the busiest company in serving the homecoming travellers. The state-owned enterprise does hold a large interest because 60% of the Trans-Java toll road concession is held by Jasa Marga and their subsidiaries.
On the one hand, the connectivity of Trans-Java toll road will surely shorten travel time. But on the other hand, the driver’s unpreparedness and safety facilities can be a mine ready to set off at any time.
Jasa Marga recorded a number of segments were prone to accidents, namely Batang-Semarang and Ngawi-Kertosono. Jasa Marga has added safety facilities to prevent accidents.
For example, PT Jasamarga Ngawi Kertosono Kediri (JNK) and PT Jasamarga Semarang Batang (JSB) have installed rumble stripes on the toll road’s main lanes with 10-kilometre intervals. The stripes are also installed 1.50 kilometres before rest areas.
Apart from that, operators have also added road signs, ranging from road dividers and speed limit signs ahead of rest areas and toll road entrance. JNK and JSB have also added safety facilities, which are warning lights and guard rails.
Chairman of JNK Iwan Moedyarno said that accidents that often occuredon the Ngawi-Kertonoso toll segment was caused by the driver’s negligence. He revealed that Ngawi-Kertosono toll road was located in the middle of west and east corridor of Trans-Java toll road network.
“This is the driver’s point of exhaustion. [As much as] 70% of accidents are caused by drivers being sleepy, careless, or looking the other way. Oftentimes those accidents are a hit from the back,” said Iwan in Surabaya, Monday (27/5).
In line with that, accidents happening on the Batang-Semarang toll segment were also caused by human negligence.
Chairman of JSB Arie Irianto has said that there have been 18 cases of accidents on the toll road that spans for 75 kilometres until April 2019.
One of the incidents involved the Regent of Demak Muhammad Natsir at the 349th km on 2 February 2019. In the accident, Natsir suffered minor injuries, while one of his servants died on the spot.
Ari explained that the driver had a high probability of suffering from exhaustion because there were six toll segments spanning for more than 300 kilometres from Jakarta.
“Safety becomes an issue. Hence, we suggest [drivers] prepare their physical conditions because the causes of accidents are sleepiness and broken tire,” said Arie in Semarang, Tuesday (28/5).
Arie added that JSB provided four Rest and Services Areas (TIP) on the Batang-Semarang toll segments. He suggested that exhausted drivers rest and not force themselves to continue their journey.
Overall, Jasa Marga has prepared a total of 66 TIPs spread along the Trans-Java corridor.
Director of Operations of PT Jasamarga Properti Tita Paulina said that there were 29 additional TIPs operating this year. From the total, there are 18 fully operational TIPs and 11 functional TIPs. She stated that the company would apply a zoning and information delivery system through Rest Area Monitoring System (RAMS) to reduce the potential of a congestion at some TIP/TI.
Palikanci Office
Besides that, the Palikanci Branch Office is also going to be turned into a rest area to anticipate congestion at TIP KM207
Director of Operations of Jasa Marga Subakti Syukur explained that travellers could access Palikanci Branch Office through Ciperna Timur Toll Gate.
At the office functioning as a rest area, provided are gas stations along with restaurants located near the branch office. “Eventually travellers can also continue their journey by accessing the same toll gate, Ciperna Timur Tollgate,” he said.
On the other hand, observers assessed the homecoming preparation was better than last year. However, the smoothness of the homecoming itself is also determined by the travellers’ readiness.
Urban Observer Yayat Supriatna assessed Jasa Marga’s preparation in anticipating the homecoming flow as well as the return flow this year was more mature. He mentioned that Jasa Marga had done detailed preparations at the congestion points.
“However, the unpredictable movements of the return flow should also be anticipated. From Surabaya to Cirebon, I see that Jasa Marga has prepared the best.”
Generally, the homecoming flow is predicted to peak on 31 May 2019 (D-5) and the return flow on 9 June 2019 (D+3).
Jasa Marga predicts as many as 1.38 million vehicles will leave Jakarta during the period between 29 May 2019 (D-7) and 4 June 2019 (D-1).
From that number, 28.68% of vehicles are headed east (towards Central Java) via Jakarta-Cikampek toll road. The rest, 26.68% of vehicles will head west (Merak) via Jakarta-Tangerang toll road and 14.64% head south (Puncak) via Jagorawi toll road.
Research Director at the Centre of Reform on Economics (Core) Indonesia Pieter Abdullah assessed the factor of the homecoming traveller’s preparation would also determine the success of this year’s homecoming commencement.
He explained that the homecoming travellers should always be reminded to top-up their electronic card’s balance so that it would always be enough for payments. The top-up should be in a large amount because the limit is Rp2 million. That amount is enough to pay for the furthest distance on the Trans-Java toll corridor.
He added that the euphoria caused by the presence of the toll road should be balanced by a proper preparation, whether it was of the users or of the operators. What is also important is that a safe homecoming is the priority because no euphoria is worth a life.
