Suramadu toll fees go into effect today

Last freebie: Motorists stop at the newly inaugurated Suramadu bridge on Tuesday. All passengers, travelling by motorcycle, car or truck, will have to pay a toll fee starting Wednesday to cross the bridge, which connects Java and Madura islands. JP/Agnes S. Jayakarna

As of Wednesday, motorists seeking to cross the Suramadu bridge linking Surabaya and Madura Island will be charged for the privilege.

State-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga said Tuesday it had officially decided to put the fees into effect at midnight on June 17, 2009, despite strong protests from ferry operators serving the Ujung and Kamal ports.

The company has posted information about the fees at the toll bridge entrance.

The fees will come into effect a week after the bridge was officially inaugurated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono last Wednesday.

In the days following the inauguration, motorists had been allowed to cross the bridge, the country’s longest, for free.

Jasa Marga has, during this time, conducted studies to gauge the possible shortcomings and effectiveness of the toll bridge.

Agus Purnomo, head of Jasa Marga’s Surabaya office, said that during the study period, his office had gathered information and made evaluations before deciding on the fees.

“We feel we’re ready to start charging toll fees sooner than expected,” he said.

The toll operator had previously said it would start charging motorists at 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Agus added Jasa Marga had found several traffic violations during the study.

With the bridge attracting much public attention, commuters making the crossing are stopping frequently by the roadside to take photos.

This activity, Agus said, was an obvious threat to safety.

To increase safety, Jasa Marga is working with the Highway Police (PJR) to conduct routine patrols along the bridge.

Single-crossing fees are Rp 3,000 for motorcycles, Rp 30,000 for sedans, SUVs, vans and pickup trucks, while larger trucks must pay between Rp 45,000 and Rp 90,000.

Ferry operators, now rendered effectively redundant by the bridge, have decried the toll fees, saying they were “much cheaper” than ferry crossing fees.

They said it would cripple their livelihoods and those of the people engaged in various activities around the ports.

Six ferry operators grouped under the Association of East Java River and Ferry Transport Employers (Gapasdap) have demanded the government help them find a “win-win solution” to keep them in
business.

Gapasdap chairman Bambang Harjo said that the opening of the bridge had seen ferry passenger numbers drop by 10 percent, causing a 70 to 80 percent dip in the earnings of vendors at Ujung and Kamal ports.

With ferries transporting an average of 10 cars, 30 motorcycles and 100 passengers a day before the bridge opened, traffic has slowed to three cars, 10 motorcycles and 25 to 35 people, Bambang said. (Agnes S. Jayakarna and Achmad Faisal)

Sumber: The Jakarta Post, Wed, 06/17/2009