Jakarta Plans Congestion Tax to Cut Traffic

Jakarta is readying a congestion tax in 2019 to help coax drivers to take public transportation instead.

The Indonesian capital is grappling with a “completely unsustainable” 4 million cars and 10 million motorcycles on its streets, declares regional deputy director Sandiaga Uno, to attendees at a Bloomberg conference in the city.

Jakarta as been described as having the world’s worst traffic. Speeds have averaged about 20 kph (12 mph)—and only 5 kph (3 mph) during rush hour—for the past three years, according to city officials.

Uno says the provincial government plans in March 2019 to implement a flexible electronic road pricing system after the first stage of a new mass transit system begins operation. The fee structure has not yet been determined.