0 Trans Sarbagita to serve airport route early next year

The island’s Trans Sarbagita rapid transit operator will soon commence the operation of a bus route that will serve Ngurah Rai International Airport passengers. Trans Sarbagita operations head, Ida Bagus Parsa, said recently that five buses would serve the route connecting Sanur and the airport early next year. The presence of the new route will provide an alternative form of public transportation for airport employees, private vehicle users and the airport’s incoming and outgoing visitors. 

“Next year, we will start operating five buses to serve the airport route in the hope that it can ease congestion on the way to and inside the airport by reducing the use of private vehicles,” Parsa said. The bus operator has coordinated with airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II and relevant stakeholders. Preparations are underway to ensure smooth operations amid the ongoing airport expansion project. According to the plan, the new route will commence sometime between February and March. 

The five buses to run the route are to be taken from corridor II, serving the Batubulan-Nusa Dua route. Among the targeted passengers are employees of the airport and offices around the airport, estimated to be more than 7,000 people. “Currently, they use private vehicles, either cars or motorcycles, and this has contributed to congestion around the airport area,” Parsa said. The buses will run every day in three shifts over two or three hours, including at peak office commute times. 

Parsa said his office had sent a proposal to the Transportation Ministry for the procurement of 20 medium-sized buses dedicated to the route. His office would also continue to accept suggestions and coordinate with all relevant stakeholders before and after the new route commenced. The bus operator has so far launched two routes: the Batubulan to Nusa Dua via Sentral Parkir Kuta corridor, as well as the Denpasar to Jimbaran route. A total of 17 main routes are scheduled to open in stages until 2019. 

Next year, the bus operator will also open corridor V to connect Mengwi bus terminal and the airport. The operation of Trans Sarbagita public buses connecting Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar and Tabanan regencies is aimed at encouraging people to take public transport to work and school. After months of operation, it has now been proven that people do take the bus during peak school and work hours, between 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Over the last two months, around 1,100 passengers have used the Trans Sarbagita buses.

source : bali daily