Opinions on New Traffic Information System and Road Pricing Policies in Jakarta, Indonesia

As urban transportation problems, such as traffic congestion, are worsening in Jakarta, some transportation demand management measures to effectively reduce congestion and shift private vehicle users to public transport such as provision of traffic information and implementation of road pricing are urgently required for the realization of proper urban transportation policy. This paper presents private vehicle users’ expected attitude toward introduction of traffic information system and road pricing and its implications by analyzing the data collected through stated preference surveys at office buildings (for mandatory trips) and shopping malls (for non-mandatory trips) in the central business district. The results reveal some interesting tendencies of private vehicle users in Jakarta. For example, only half of car users might change their routes if there was an alternative route available that is less congested and results in faster driving speed and shorter travel time, while the remaining half would stick to their regular route even though the travel time exceeds their tolerance level. Another finding is that, while motorcycle users are much more sensitive to road pricing charges due to the effect of their relatively lower income, a certain number of car users perceive cars as the only travel mode available that they can use regardless of the road pricing charging level. It is hoped that the private vehicle users’ behavioral characteristics that have been revealed in the surveys will serve as important input for the evaluation of the benefits of urban transportation policies including introduction of traffic information systems and road pricing schemes for the Jakarta metropolitan area.