Andi Aqil, Jakarta – Jakarta is set to receive an honorable mention at the 2020 Sustainable Transport Award in Fortaleza, Brazil, for the city's efforts to develop the Transjakarta bus network, which has seen a 200 percent increase in passengers in less than three years.
"In addition to increasing the number of Transjakarta passengers, Jakarta has also been deemed to have successfully integrated the Transjakarta system with angkot [minivan] and the MRT to provide additional public transportation options for residents," Indonesia Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) spokeswoman Fani Rachmita said in a written statement on Thursday.
Jakarta has also been praised for improving pedestrian facilities and access to train stations and bus stops as well as creating hubs to integrate various kinds of public transportation.
The Sustainable Transport Award is designed to show appreciation for cities that have implemented innovative strategies to improve public transportation, pedestrian and biking facilities, as well as parking management.
Jakarta was nominated alongside 12 cities from across the globe including Richmond (United States), San Jose (Costa Rica), Kingston (Canada) and Bogota (Colombia).
Jakarta reached the semifinal and finished as one of the top three alongside winner Pune (India) and Kigali (Rwanda).
Representatives from Pune and Jakarta will receive their awards at the awards ceremony in Washington DC in January 2020.