The impact of operational quality in public transportation: The case of TransJakarta

Policy brief Cities and Sustainable Growth

This policy brief examines how the expansion of the public bus system in Jakarta, Indonesia has affected ridership and considers what this can tell us about commuter preferences.

  • This brief explores findings from a study that empirically analyses a large expansion of the public bus system in Jakarta, Indonesia to understand its effects on ridership and learn about commuter preferences, using model simulations to characterise optimal designs for the bus network.
  • Commuters are 2.4-4.2 times more sensitive to wait time, compared to travel time on the bus. Riders on non-BRT routes (i.e. buses without dedicated travel lanes) are particularly averse to waiting at bus stops.
  • Passengers are indifferent to transfers, beyond their impact on total travel time and wait time.
  • Expanding the bus network, as opposed to concentrating operations intensively in the city centre, would lead to increased commuter welfare and ridership.
  • Study findings may help inform how TransJakarta, the public bus operator in Jakarta, Indonesia, allocates resources in the future. 
  • This project highlights the potential for urban transportation providers in low- and middle-income countries to leverage the vast data generated in day-to-day operations to optimise their networks.