In this Indonesian City, green corridors are key to bolstering public transit
In the heart of Central Java, a transportation revolution is quietly unfolding. Despite having a significantly smaller budget than Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, the city of Semarang has emerged as an unexpected pioneer in sustainable urban mobility through its Trans Semarang bus system.
Since its modest launch in 2009 with a single route, Trans Semarang has blossomed into a comprehensive network spanning eight main corridors and four feeder routes, serving tens of thousands of daily commuters12. This growth reflects not just expansion, but a fundamental shift in how the city approaches urban transportation challenges.
A Bold Commitment to Public Transit
In late 2024, Semarang’s government demonstrated unprecedented commitment to its public transportation system by enacting Regional Regulation No. 11/2024 on Transportation Management2. This groundbreaking legislation mandates that a minimum of 5% of the city’s budget must be allocated to public transport subsidies—a bold move that few Indonesian cities have been willing to make.
The investment is already showing promising returns. In 2022, Trans Semarang recorded 15.43 million passenger trips, representing a remarkable 65.15% increase from 2021 figures that were hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic12. By 2023, the system was consistently handling approximately 40,000 daily trips, cementing its role as a vital component of the city’s infrastructure.
Beyond Buses: The Green Corridor Vision
Yet Semarang’s leadership recognizes that buses alone cannot solve the complex challenges of urban congestion and pollution. The city’s ambitious goal of increasing public transport’s mode share to 20% by 2030—up from just 7% in 2020—requires a more comprehensive approach.
Enter the Green Corridor concept—a holistic strategy that transforms selected transit corridors into models of sustainable mobility. This innovative approach focuses on creating low-emission zones with integrated transportation solutions that both incentivize public transit use and discourage private vehicle dependence.
With support from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) Indonesia and UK PACT, Semarang has identified Corridors One and Four as ideal candidates for this transformation1. These routes intersect at the city center and connect multiple transit corridors, making them strategic arteries for implementing change.
Electric Evolution
A cornerstone of the Green Corridor initiative is the introduction of electric buses. According to ITDP Indonesia’s 2023 analysis, transitioning to electric vehicles on these key routes could slash greenhouse gas emissions by up to 42.9% equivalent to removing 5,238 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere annually.
This shift comes at a critical time. A 2017 study revealed that Semarang’s transport sector alone produces over 800,000 tons of CO2 emissions yearly, contributing significantly to the city’s air quality challenges.
A Three-Phase Transformation
Semarang’s approach to implementing the Green Corridor concept is methodical and strategic, unfolding in three carefully planned phases:
Short-Term Priorities:
The initial phase focuses on establishing foundational regulations and improving existing services. This includes developing inclusive bus stop design standards, standardizing wayfinding systems, and introducing bike-sharing regulations. Simultaneously, the city is enhancing service reliability on Corridors 1 and 4 while piloting electric buses on these routes.
Medium-Term Expansion:
As the program gains momentum, Semarang plans to strengthen institutional frameworks, potentially establishing a dedicated entity to manage Trans Semarang. This phase will see the full-scale implementation of electric bus operations on the pilot corridors, comprehensive improvements to bus stop facilities, and the introduction of area based parking zones with strategic pricing to discourage private vehicle use in transit-rich areas.
Long-Term Vision:
The final phase aims to ensure all Trans Semarang routes deliver reliable, inclusive service while expanding the complete street concept and bike sharing services citywide. Perhaps most ambitiously, the city plans to eliminate on-street parking in strict intervention zones and repurpose excess parking spaces for more productive community uses.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite its progress, Trans Semarang faces significant challenges. The system’s operational speed is limited to 60 km/h on cross-city routes and 30 km/h elsewhere, though many drivers exceed these limits, raising safety concerns3. Additionally, accessibility remains problematic, with many bus stops lacking proper accommodations for people with disabilities.
Contract disputes have also disrupted service. Since September 2021, the Feeder 1 service has been suspended due to a contractual conflict between the operator, PT. Matra Semar, and BLU UPTD Trans Semarang, which ultimately led to legal action.
Nevertheless, Trans Semarang has established itself as a preferred transportation option for many residents due to its affordability, air-conditioned fleet, and relatively reliable schedules. The system operates from approximately 5:30 AM to 5:40 PM daily, with special service hours for the Airport Corridor extending until midnight.
A Model for Medium-Sized Cities
What makes Semarang’s story particularly compelling is that it demonstrates how medium-sized cities with limited budgets can still implement progressive transportation policies. By concentrating resources on strategic corridors rather than attempting to transform the entire system simultaneously, Semarang has created a laboratory for sustainable mobility solutions that can be refined and eventually scaled.
As Indonesia and other developing nations grapple with rapid urbanization and its accompanying challenges, Semarang’s Green Corridor initiative offers a valuable blueprint for creating more livable, sustainable cities. By integrating public transit improvements with complementary policies on parking, cycling infrastructure, and pedestrian accessibility, the city is addressing urban mobility as an ecosystem rather than a collection of isolated problems.
In doing so, Semarang is not just building a better bus system it’s reimagining what urban life can be in the 21st century.
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