Public Perceptions of a New MRT Service: a Pre-launch Study in Jakarta

Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is the first rapid transit system in Indonesia, built with the aim of alleviating the severe congestion in Jakarta by offering a travel alternative to people using private vehicles. Although Jakarta MRT is the most sophisticated inland transport mode in Jakarta, prior to its launch, there was no evidence or guarantee that the local community was willing to use it. Hence, the pre-launch study of a non-operational public transport system was introduced to better understand perceptions of the new MRT service in Jakarta from its potential future customers’ perspective as well as their willingness to use it. A survey was conducted on 516 respondents in Jakarta and three surrounding areas of Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi. The collected data was divided into two respondent groups: ‘MRT corridor areas’ (the MRT group), which includes Central and South Jakarta residents, and ‘other areas’ (the other group), which includes residents from all the other surrounding areas. The key finding of the study is that a great majority of the respondents from both groups declared a willingness to undertake a mode shift to Jakarta MRT services in the future. Various statistically significant differences were identified between the two groups. Moreover, respondents ranked six factors in the order of priority when selecting a transport mode, with reliability and safety issues identified as the most important. A set of key recommendations, addressed to the Jakarta MRT operator, is listed in order to optimize the MRT’s role in alleviating congestion in Jakarta. The study approach presented in this paper could be applied by other cities considering introduction of a new (transport or) metro system in order to understand its potential customers’ perceptions and expectations toward the new service.