PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Bandung City Government (Pemkot) continues to encourage the acceleration of the development and arrangement of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network in the Greater Bandung area as an effort to increase accessibility to modern, comfortable, and integrated public transportation.

The Bandung BRT project is scheduled to be completed in stages until 2027. After planning and licensing are complete, construction of BRT lines and stations is expected to begin in early 2025. The project also includes 21 routes with a total of 34 BRT stations and 768 stops outside the main corridor with 579 buses.

Acting Mayor of Bandung A. Koswara proposed that each BRT station be equipped with motorbike parking facilities to facilitate mode changes for people using private vehicles.

"If possible, there should be a motorcycle parking area at every station. This will greatly help the public in switching from private vehicles to public transportation," he said while leading the BRT Feeder Construction and Arrangement Preparation Meeting at Bandung City Hall, Tuesday (11/5/2024).

He said the BRT lanes should be designed differently from other roads, both in terms of materials and aesthetics, to mark them as a priority for BRT buses.

"With this difference, psychologically road users will understand that the lane is specifically for buses and not for the public," he said.

Koswara said that social problems related to the construction of the BRT, one of which is street vendors and illegal parking, are serious challenges, but this is an important momentum to improve the urban planning of Bandung.

As part of the National Strategic Project (PSN), this clean-up will be carried out with planned solutions, such as relocation and a more humane approach to minimize social impacts.

Koswara also said that later, the detailed preparation of the Construction and Arrangement of BRT Feeders in Bandung City will be discussed between the Regional Apparatus (PD) with the PMC World Bank consultant team and related ministries.

"The sooner the discussion is held, the better. Hopefully it can be completed in the next week or two," he said.

Deputy Team Leader of PMC World Bank Pandit Pranggana explained that the BRT project is part of the Indonesia Mass Transit Project (Mastran) supported by the World Bank and Agence Française de Développement (AFD). This project is designed to reduce congestion and improve the quality of public transportation in Greater Bandung.

Currently, his party and the Bandung City Government are discussing several matters in preparation for the construction and arrangement of the BRT feeder, including:

1. Detailed Engineering Design (DED).
2. Traffic Engineering Management and Construction Planning.
3. Parking Management Strategy.
4. Social and Environmental Mitigation.
5. Building Permits.
6. Depot and End Station Layout.
7. BRT and Feeder Route Plan.

Previously, the Acting Governor of West Java, Bey Machmudin, and a number of regional heads of the Bandung Raya districts/cities conducted a trial of the Alun-alun Bandung-Kota Baru Parahyangan city bus in order to finalize the plan to build the Bandung Raya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) transportation system.

Bey said the infrastructure for the Greater Bandung BRT will begin construction in early 2025, including an operations command center for bus unit management, CCTV equipment in buses for security.

"Also, an integrated payment system will be created with a single payment for the entire corridor by creating intersection points. The budget for infrastructure is from the World Bank. So of course it is hoped that the people of Greater Bandung will switch to bus transportation," said Bey.

The construction of the Greater Bandung BRT will begin in early 2025, followed by phase II in 2026. While the entire operation will be in 2027, the corridors of which will cover the areas of West Bandung Regency, Cimahi City, Bandung City, Bandung Regency, and Sumedang Regency.