Governor: MRT Underground Interconnection Network, New History for Jakarta and Indonesia

Jakarta is committed to developing as a sustainable city. It is evidenced by transit-oriented urban planning, where residents feel comfortable switching between modes of public transportation. As a firm commitment, transit-oriented areas are massively developed with breakthroughs and innovations. The development paradigm used has also changed, from being oriented to private vehicles or Car Oriented Development (COD) to being oriented to transit or Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).

This is a new history in Jakarta and Indonesia

On Thursday (7/7), Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan initiated the construction of the first underground interconnection facility on the MRT line to realize an underground interconnection network and seamless urban mobility in transit-oriented areas. The pedestrian tunnel that connects UOB's Thamrin Nine Building and BNI Dukuh Atas Station is clear evidence that collaborative work in terms of public transportation facilities and commercial buildings on private land, will bring ease of mobility.

"This is a new history in Jakarta and Indonesia, as we started a project to build an underground pedestrian road, where MRT passengers will later pass through a tunnel that directly reaches buildings around the station. This tunnel will be the beginning of the realization of an underground interconnection network on the MRT route which not only facilitates movement patterns but also the basement as a new production space in Jakarta," he explained, at the Opening of the 2022 TOD Forum and the Declaration of the development of the Thamrin Nine Underground Interconnection UOB-Dukuh Atas BNI MRT Station, as quoted by Jakarta PPID's press release, Thursday (7/7).

MRT Jakarta Offers Edutourism to Explore Phase 2 Tunnel Construction

It is also a picture of the future related to increasing the integration of public transportation which has been conducted by the Jakarta administration, where at level 1, integration connects between modes such as MRT stations connected to TransJakarta bus stops, Commuter Line stations, and other public transportation. While, at level 2, the integration connects the station with the workplace.

"We want the shift from private vehicles to public transportation to be a rational movement, in terms of time and at a lower cost. By so, the calculation of time, cost, and convenience will be obtained by all. "You can imagine that a 40-story building has access to the station, so there will be thousands of people working in the building moving to use public transportation. Hope the development can be completed on time, on cost, and with quality," he explained.

The initiation of the underground interconnection development was marked by the signing of the Cooperation Agreement on the Construction of the Thamrin Nine UOB–Dukuh Atas BNI Interconnection Building and Facilities Station between PT MRT Jakarta's Business Development Director Farchad Mahfud and PT Wisma Kartika President Director Alvin Gozali. It was witnessed by Jakarta Governor and PT MRT Jakarta President Director William Sabandar.

The pedestrian access is 80 meters long and five meters wide, equipped with various supporting facilities, such as retail, storage rooms, escalators, and elevators. The tunnel was built based on the principles of developing a universal transit-oriented area, including being friendly to persons with disabilities.

The construction of interconnections, such as the pedestrian tunnel connecting UOB's Thamrin Nine Building-BNI Dukuh Atas Station, has the potential to increase MRT Jakarta's ridership rate and increase the number of visits to connected office/shopping centers, and activate the basement as a new, productive space. Like the flyover experience at Blok M Plaza which increased visits by 150% (megapolitan.kompas.com, 2019).

It completes the elevated interconnection of Blok M BCA and Blok M Plaza stations which have been built and the Lebak Bulus Grab-Pondok Indah Square elevated interconnection which is currently under construction. In addition, five underground and overpass interconnections are currently in the preparation stage. Hence, MRT Jakarta invites building owners to collaborate in realizing an interconnection network along the MRT line.

Jakarta Pioneers in Transit-Oriented Area Development

Indonesian-Jakarta Architects Association Chairwoman Doti Windajani said Jakarta deserves to be called a pioneer in transit-oriented areas because of Jakarta's need to anticipate congestion through improving transportation infrastructure, adapting to climate change through the application of low emission zones, and regulating and improving spatial and building layouts through urban regeneration with the integration of housing, work, and space. social.

"The good integration can be improved, especially the details of the area leading to the UOB Building. This tunnel is also a good thing, hopefully, later it can be more seamless toward Jalan Blora. Then it needs to pay attention to the arrangement of MSMEs in the area," he explained.

The same statement also came out from City Planning Observer Yayat Supriatna. He mentioned underground interconnection on the MRT line was a very interesting idea, as the idea of integration with shopping centers or offices would add value to the utilization of building functions and ridership of the number of passengers on the MRT Jakarta.

"This experience has been carried out with the Blok M mall, in the form of integrating the Blok M BCA Station with a shopping center. The added value obtained is that the number of visitors increases, tenants benefit because business income increases and the atmosphere of the mall becomes very crowded," he explained.

He added that the breakthrough integration between the functions of buildings around the station is a smart solution that further enhances two service functions, namely transportation and trade/property/retail services.

"This is the best way to revive the transit-oriented area as a new economic center in Jakarta," he added.

Planning Experts Association Chairman Dhani Muttaqin revealed that the pedestrian tunnel is one of the efforts to make the Dukuh Atas transit-oriented area more comfortable for pedestrians and public transport users. "We welcome this tunnel construction initiative as an interconnection facility for the MRT Jakarta with the surrounding area. This needs to be supported by various other facilities, such as quality sidewalks, adequate green open spaces, parking facilities, and housing for various classes of city residents.," he uttered.

Jakarta Property Institute Director Wendi Haryanto stated that it was important for Jakarta as a pioneer of TOD to implement best practices in TOD management, as its status as a capital city and metropolitan city would make Jakarta a source of learning for other cities.

"Stakeholders in the interconnection of buildings around the TOD area with MRT Jakarta stations need to have the same thought to bring good to the city. The interconnection development business scheme is a symbiotic relationship of mutualism for all stakeholders and needs to be attractive to the government and the private sector," he explained.

He also added the interconnection would revitalize the economy from the planning stage to the operational stage.

"Interconnection with mixed-concept buildings in the TOD area will also reduce congestion which is the cause of economic losses," he added.

As for the information, the Dukuh Atas transit-oriented area development has been started in 2018 by the Jakarta Governor. Since then, the Dukuh Atas area was transformed into the first transit-oriented development area that provides hope for the face of Jakarta in the future that prioritizes pedestrians and cyclists. The Kendal Tunnel was converted into a pedestrian area and a space for arts and cultural activities for Jakarta residents, which also made it easier to change modes of transportation.

Unlock Potential for Transit-Oriented Area Development Cooperation

In line with the spirit of improving the face of Jakarta, PT MRT Jakarta also held a TOD Forum which was opened directly by the Jakarta Governor. The TOD Forum, which is the culmination of the TOD Fair, which has been held since June 10 through a series of events such as photo competitions and Instagram reels, as well as a transit-oriented area sketch competition, was held from July 7 to 8 at the Menara Mandiri Assembly Hall, South Jakarta.

In the forum, PT MRT Jakarta held a discussion forum that presented expert speakers in the field of transit-oriented area development. It was hoped that it could be an opportunity to open up opportunities, bring together, and establish potential business cooperation between PT MRT Jakarta and potential development partners, investors, and related institutions.

"Besides collaborating with Thamrin Nine Complex, we also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Samsung C&T Corporation regarding TOD investment, a financing scheme for the development of an urban railway system and urban rejuvenation with Standard Chartered Bank, and the participation of Japanese companies in the implementation of TOD in Jakarta with Oriental Consultants Global," uttered PT MRT Jakarta President Director William Sabandar.

"Thus far, buildings around Jakarta MRT stations have the potential to be directly connected, such as Wisma Nusantara and Pullman Hotel with Bundaran HI Station, Sudirman 7.8 with Setiabudi Astra Station, Wisma Intiland with Bendungan Hilir Station, Mandiri Tower with Istora Mandiri Station, and which are under construction and will be inaugurated next month, namely Poins Square and Lebak Bulus stations," he explained.

"This interconnection network will have two impacts, namely an increase in the number of MRT Jakarta transportation and the sustainability of economic actors around the MRT Jakarta station, especially the opportunity for growth," he concluded.