Bus Trans Semarang: Service Improvement During the New Normal Era

Abstract

Public transportation is an effort towards sustainable transportation. The City of Semarang has public transportation such as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), called the Bus Trans Semarang. The opening of the Bus Trans Semarang in 2009 continues to grow and increase the number of passengers. However, the number of passengers is still far below the expected target, even though the Bus Trans Semarang service continues to be improved. The decrease in the number of passengers further exacerbated by the existence of restrictions on community activities in Semarang City due to the pandemic COVID-19. Bus Trans Semarang services during the COVID-19 Pandemic need handled or minimized to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 to passengers when using the Bus Trans Semarang. This study aspires to determine what service variables are based on passenger preference that needs improvement, especially in the new normal era. The hope is that by knowing these variables, services can be made on the Bus Trans Semarang to increase public transportation use while reducing private vehicles’ use. Thus, Bus Trans Semarang can be suitable public transportation since users’ safety and comfort are essential for the success of public transportation in breaking the COVID-19 chain. This study uses the Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) of passengers. This study produces service variables expected by passengers, namely ease of mode change with other types of vehicles, timeliness of arrival at bus stops or terminals, and health protocol expectations on the Bus by both officers and passengers.