Jakarta, New York shared public transportation strategy

Photo caption: Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung and New York Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani after bilateral meeting at the Civic Hall in New York on Sunday (September 20, 2026). (ANTARA)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo shared his administration’s strategy for addressing traffic congestion in the Indonesian capital and improving public transportation during a bilateral meeting with the New York Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani.

At the Civic Hall in New York, the United States, on Sunday (Sept 20), Wibowo highlighted the Transjabodetabek bus network as a key instrument for improving connectivity between Jakarta and neighboring areas, especially Banten and West Java, while encouraging commuters to shift away from private vehicles.

"More than four million people commute to and from Jakarta on a daily basis," Wibowo said, underscoring the challenge of managing traffic congestion during peak hours, according to a statement received here on Monday.

In addressing the issue, he said the Jakarta administration is expanding the Transjabodetabek network to ease congestion and reduce the number of vehicles entering the capital.

Originally serving only Jakarta when it was launched in 2004, the bus service now connects destinations across the Greater Jakarta metropolitan region to enhance regional mobility.

Wibowo told Mamdani the provincial government had introduced a free public transportation programme for 15 categories of residents, including senior citizens, people with disabilities, and students receiving educational assistance.

The discussion extended beyond traffic management, with the governor also highlighting ongoing efforts to bolster Jakarta’s resilience to flooding.

"Much like New York, Jakarta is facing flooding as one of its challenges. Therefore, we continue strengthening flood control infrastructure, reducing reliance on groundwater to curb land subsidence, and constructing a giant sea wall," he said.

The exchange took place during his visit to New York for the U20 Mayoral Plenary, where Jakarta highlighted its strong economic fundamentals, marked by 5.52-percent growth in the second quarter of 2026.