Heru Budi's response and the police's aftermath of criticizing Santa's sidewalks for roads

Heru Budi's response and the police's aftermath of criticizing Santa's sidewalks for roads

The closure of the Santa intersection, which resulted in the demolition of sidewalks into main roads, was criticized by a number of civil coalitions. Acting Governor of DKI Heru Budi to Dirlantas Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Latif Usman opened their voices about this criticism. 

Those who Criticize

A number of civic coalitions that criticized were Greenpeace, the Pedestrian Coalition, the Bike To Work or B2W Indonesia community, the Road Safety Association, FDTJ (Jakarta Transportation Discussion Forum) and KPBB (Commission for the Elimination of Leaded Gasoline). They held a flower sowing action. 

"The development of bicycle lanes in Jakarta is the most progressive in the world today, so it should be massively maintained and expanded throughout the city. Whatever DKI Jakarta does will become a benchmark for other cities not only in Indonesia, but also in Southeast Asia. Apart from being a marker of progress in urban civilization, bicycle lanes are also very effective in controlling traffic jams and vehicle emissions," said B2W Indonesia Chairperson Fahmi Saimima in his statement, Sunday (16/4). 

Meanwhile, chairman of the Pedestrian Coalition Alfred Sitorus believes that closing intersections by sacrificing sidewalks is a setback. According to him, the sidewalks that have been developed by DKI Pemprov are being developed. 

"What has been developed by the Government of DKI Jakarta should be maintained and not set back so that people are properly facilitated to take advantage of non-motorized mobility, especially walking. Destroying sidewalks to become roads, is clearly a set back step," he said. 

This criticism was then responded by the Acting Governor of DKI to the Metro Police Traffic Directorate. How do they respond to this criticism? 

Heru Budi Considers Criticism Normal

Heru Budi believes that criticism is normal. He ensured that Pemprov DKI accepts all existing criticism. 

"Criticism is normal. For the DKI Provincial Government, the suggestions are good," said Heru in the Monas area, Central Jakarta, Monday (17/4/2023). 

Heru said that his party was still conducting trials related to traffic engineering in the area. He said the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is trying to reduce traffic jams. 

"I and Mr. Kapolda tried to open and close. Mr. Kapolda said earlier that 07.00 to 10.00 was set. After that it was opened as usual. We only regulate the name of traffic jams, we regulate plus and minus," he said. 

Heru Budi said that his party is trying to fulfill public facilities. He said no party would be ignored in Jakarta. 

"The bicycle lanes are facilitated by the Transportation Agency. Hopefully nothing will be forgotten, nothing will be neglected, we will all facilitate it," he said. 

Polda Gives Reasons to Unravel Traffic jams

Polda Metro Jaya Dirlantas Kombes Latif Usman said the changes were made to smooth traffic flow and unravel congestion there. He said the changes were made because previously there was a bottle neck at the intersection. 

"That's an effort to smooth circulation. Because yesterday there was a bottle neck there, it's been opened, the sidewalk was opened to avoid the bottle neck," said Latif when contacted, Monday (17/4/2023). 

Latif said that initially the road used to function as a highway and then it was converted into a sidewalk. Due to the existing congestion, the sidewalk was again converted into a highway. 

"The sidewalk for the road. In Santa, from the direction of Mampang Kuningan, there was a bottle neck. It used to be a road, so we are using it again as a road," he said. 

Making Bad Traffic, Santa's Intersection No Longer Closed

Jakarta Head of Transportation Agency Syafrin Liputo acknowledged that the closure of the Santa intersection, South Jakarta, had caused traffic jams. Based on the results of the evaluation, it was decided to return the Santa intersection to normal. 

"So indeed, first, we hope for the function of Jalan Ciranjang. So yesterday, when the first trial was carried out, Jalan Ciranjang was still functioning, as well as going west to Gunawarman. So, starting yesterday there were public complaints, so several portals were closed. As a result, all traffic coming from Tendean and then from Wijaya spills over to Jalan Wolter Monginsidi, so that traffic jams are everywhere," said Syafrin, to journalists, Monday (17/4/2023). 

"And as a result of that, the tail can go south, this can also go east, yesterday it could even reach Tegal Parang, the tail up to MT Haryono. This means that this is what we are evaluating, indeed changes must be made immediately," he continued. 

The DKI Transportation Agency then decided to dismantle the concrete barrier that had closed Simpang Santa. Syafrin emphasized that the intersection would not be closed again. 

Meanwhile, his party will re-arrange the traffic light. Including reinstalling the red light that was removed as a result of the traffic engineering. 

"Tonight we will activate it, tonight we will activate the traffic lights so that tomorrow conditions will return to normal. So those from Wijaya can immediately get the green light to turn right to the east of Jalan Tendean," said Syafrin. 

In addition, Syafrin said that the TransJakarta line would also be returned. The TransJakarta bus, which had its route diverted, will return to Tendean. 

"Then for the TransJakarta service, which we previously turned to enter Jl Wolter Monginsidi, it will return, enter, directly to Tendean, as well as we will carry out parking arrangements in the area of ​​Jl Suryo, Jl Wolter Monginsidi and also Senopati," he said. 

Jawaban Heru Budi dan Polisi Buntut Kritik Trotoar Santa Jadi Jalan

Penutupan simpang Santa yang berimbas pembongkaran trotoar jadi jalan raya dikritik sejumlah koalisi sipil. Pj Gubernur DKI Heru Budi hingga Dirlantas Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Latif Usman buka suara soal kritik tersebut.

Mereka yang Kritik

Sejumlah koalisi sipil yang mengkritik yakni Greenpeace, Koalisi Pejalan Kaki, komunitas Bike To Work atau B2W Indonesia, Road Safety Association, FDTJ (Forum Diskusi Transportasi Jakarta) dan KPBB (Komisi Penghapusan Bensin Bertimbel). Mereka menggelar aksi tabur bunga.

"Pengembangan lajur sepeda di Jakarta adalah yang paling progresif di dunia saat ini, jadi seharusnya dipertahankan dan diperluas secara masif di seluruh wilayah kota. Apapun yang dilakukan DKI Jakarta akan menjadi benchmark bagi kota-kota lain tidak hanya di Indonesia, tetapi juga di Asia Tenggara. Lajur sepeda selain sebagai penanda kemajuan peradaban kota, juga sangat efektif mengendalikan kemacetan dan emisi kendaraan," kata Ketua Umum B2W Indonesia, Fahmi Saimima dalam keterangannya, Minggu (16/4).

Sementara itu, ketua Koalisi Pejalan Kaki Alfred Sitorus menilai penutupan persimpangan dengan mengorbankan trotoar merupakan kemunduran. Menurutnya, trotoar yang sudah dikembangkan Pemprov DKI dikembangkan.

"Apa yang sudah dikembangkan oleh Pemerintah DKI Jakarta, hendaknya dipertahankan dan jangan set back agar masyarakat terfasilitasi dengan baik untuk memanfaatkan non-motorized mobility terutama berjalan kaki. Penghancuran trotoar menjadi jalan raya, jelas langkah set back," ujarnya.

Kritikan ini lantas direspons oleh Pj Gubernur DKI hingga Dirlantas Polda Metro. Bagaimana respons mereka atas kritik tersebut?

Heru Budi Anggap Kritik Hal yang Biasa

Heru Budi menilai sebuah kritikan adalah hal yang biasa. Dia memastikan Pemprov DKI menerima segala kritik yang ada.

"Kritikan itu kan hal biasa. Buat Pemprov DKI itu bagus saran-sarannya," kata Heru di kawasan Monas, Jakarta Pusat, Senin (17/4/2023).

Heru mengatakan pihaknya masih melakukan uji coba terkait rekayasa lalu lintas di kawasan tersebut. Dia mengatakan Pemprov DKI Jakarta berupaya mengurangi kemacetan.

"Saya dengan Pak Kapolda uji coba buka tutup. Pak Kapolda tadi menyampaikan jam 07.00 jam 10.00 diatur. Setelah itu dibuka sebagaimana biasa. Cuma namanya kemacetan kita atur, plus minusnya kita atur," ujarnya.

Heru Budi mengatakan pihaknya berupaya memenuhi fasilitas publik. Dia mengatakan tak akan ada pihak yang diabaikan di Jakarta.

"Jalur sepeda difasilitasi oleh Dishub. Mudah-mudahan tidak ada yang terlupakan tidak ada yang terabaikan, kita fasilitasi semua," ujarnya.

Polda Beberkan Alasan untuk Urai Kemacetan

Dirlantas Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Latif Usman mengatakan perubahan tersebut dilakukan guna kelancaran arus lalu lintas dan mengurai kemacetan di sana. Dia menyebut perubahan dilakukan karena sebelumnya terjadi bottle neck di simpang tersebut.

"Itu kan upaya kelancaran sebagai sirkulasi. Karena kemarin di situ ada bottle neck itu kan sudah dibuka, trotoar itu dibuka untuk menghindari bottle neck itu," kata Latif saat dihubungi, Senin (17/4/2023).

Latif mengatakan mulanya jalan tersebut memang pernah berfungsi sebagai jalan raya lalu diubah menjadi trotoar. Karena kemacetan yang ada, trotoar tersebut pun kembali dialihfungsikan menjadi jalan raya.

"Trotoar untuk jalan. Di Santa itu dari arah Mampang Kuningan ke arah situ terjadi bottle neck. Dulunya itu kan jalan, makanya kita manfaatkan lagi sebagai jalan," ujarnya.

Bikin Macet Parah, Simpang Santa Tak Lagi Ditutup

Kadishub DKI Jakarta Syafrin Liputo mengakui penutupan simpang Santa, Jakarta Selatan, menyebabkan kemacetan. Berdasarkan hasil evaluasi, simpang Santa itu kemudian diputuskan untuk dikembalikan seperti semula.

"Jadi memang, pertama, kita harapkan fungsi Jalan Ciranjang. Jadi kemarin, begitu dilakukan uji coba pertama, di Jalan Ciranjang masih difungsikan, begitu juga masuk ke arah barat sampai ke Gunawarman. Nah, mulai kemarin ada komplain masyarakat, jadi beberapa portal ditutup. Akibatnya, semua traffic yang dari arah Tendean kemudian dari Wijaya tumpah ruah di Jalan Wolter Monginsidi, sehingga kemacetannya ke mana-mana," kata Syafrin, kepada wartawan, Senin (17/4/2023).

"Dan akibat dari itu, ekornya bisa ke selatan, ini juga ke timur, ini bahkan kemarin bisa Tegal Parang ekornya sampai dengan MT Haryono. Artinya memang ini yang kemudian kami evaluasi, memang harus bisa dilakukan perubahan segera," lanjut dia.

Dishub DKI kemudian memutuskan membongkar barier beton yang sempat menutup Simpang Santa. Syafrin menegaskan persimpangan itu tak akan ditutup lagi.

Sementara itu, pihaknya akan melakukan pengaturan ulang terhadap traffic light. Termasuk memasang lagi lampu merah yang dicopot akibat rekayasa lalin itu.

"Malam ini kita akan aktivasi, malam ini kita akan aktivasi untuk lampu lalu lintas sehingga besok kondisi sudah normal. Jadi yang dari Wijaya bisa langsung mendapatkan lampu hijau untuk belok kanan ke arah timur Jalan Tendean," kata Syafrin.

Selain itu, Syafrin menyampaikan jalur TransJakarta juga akan dikembalikan. Bus TransJakarta yang sempat dialihkan rutenya, akan kembali masuk ke Tendean.

"Kemudian untuk layanan TransJakarta yang tadinya kita belokan masuk ke Jl Wolter Monginsidi akan kembali, masuk, langsung ke Tendean, begitu juga kita akan melakukan penataan parkir di kawasan Jl Suryo, Jl Wolter Monginsidi dan juga Senopati," tuturnya.