The findings arrive as Indonesia continues to experience rapid growth in motor vehicle ownership, placing increasing pressure on road infrastructure and public transportation systems. The Porong–Pasuruan corridor is one of East Java's strategic transportation routes, linking industrial estates, residential areas, commercial centers, and surrounding urban regions. Despite its economic importance, the corridor has long lacked reliable road-based public transportation, encouraging commuters to rely heavily on motorcycles and private cars.
According to the authors, annual motor vehicle growth of approximately 4.6 percent reflects the inability of existing public transportation services to meet rising travel demand. The dominance of private vehicles contributes not only to congestion but also to higher accident risks, fuel consumption, and environmental impacts. Because the corridor already demonstrates strong mobility demand and serves important economic activities, the researchers argue that Bus Rapid Transit represents a practical solution for improving regional connectivity.
To evaluate the proposal, the research team applied the Four-Step Transportation Model, a widely used planning framework that estimates travel demand and passenger movement. Instead of focusing solely on infrastructure, the researchers examined how people travel, how many passengers are expected to use the service, and how buses should operate to meet demand efficiently.
The analysis combined three major components:
- Operational performance analysis to determine fleet size, travel time, service frequency, and passenger waiting time.
- Vehicle operating cost analysis to calculate the financial requirements for running the system.
- Investment feasibility analysis using the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) to determine whether expected economic benefits outweigh operational and investment costs.
The study recommends operating the BRT service 16 hours per day, from 5:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. The planned route extends approximately 33.4 kilometers, with an operating speed of 30 kilometers per hour, producing a one-way travel time of 66.8 minutes. A complete round trip requires approximately 143.6 minutes, while a full operational cycle takes 153.62 minutes.
Researchers also determined that buses should arrive every 14.65 minutes, allowing approximately 4.1 bus departures per hour. Based on projected passenger demand, the optimal fleet consists of 10 medium-sized buses, each capable of carrying 30 passengers and completing about six trips per day. These operational parameters are designed to balance service quality with operational efficiency.
Financial analysis further strengthens the case for implementation. The researchers calculated a vehicle operating cost of approximately IDR 10,341.79 per kilometer, while the estimated passenger fare is IDR 541.71 per kilometer. Assuming an average passenger load factor of 70 percent, annual BRT revenue is projected to exceed IDR 11.36 billion, compared with annual operating costs of approximately IDR 10.33 billion.
The project's overall Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) reaches 1.10, indicating that projected benefits exceed total costs. In transportation investment analysis, a BCR greater than one is widely recognized as evidence that a project is economically feasible. This result suggests that the Porong–Pasuruan BRT system has strong potential to operate sustainably while delivering financial returns alongside improved public transportation services.
As ethically paraphrased from the findings by Dimas Wisnu Haryoko, Dr. Budi Witjaksana, and Dr. Hanie Teki Tjendani of Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, the proposed BRT system provides a data-driven foundation for transportation investment decisions because operational planning, passenger demand forecasting, and financial evaluation consistently indicate that the corridor can support an efficient and economically sustainable public transit service.
Beyond financial performance, the study highlights several broader implications for regional development. A reliable Bus Rapid Transit network could encourage residents to shift away from private vehicles, helping reduce traffic congestion, improve road safety, lower fuel consumption, and decrease transportation-related emissions. Better public transportation would also strengthen access between industrial zones, employment centers, educational institutions, and residential communities throughout the Porong–Pasuruan corridor.
The findings may assist multiple stakeholders. Local governments can use the results when developing transportation policies and prioritizing infrastructure investments. Public transportation operators may benefit from the operational planning model when determining fleet requirements, service schedules, and fare strategies. Investors gain evidence regarding the economic viability of future BRT projects, while transportation planners can use the methodology as a reference for evaluating similar corridors elsewhere in Indonesia.
The researchers recommend expanding future studies by incorporating electronic ticketing systems, peak- and off-peak travel demand analysis, dedicated BRT lane design, station and terminal planning, park-and-ride facilities, and broader socioeconomic benefits. They also encourage future evaluations to include reductions in travel time, vehicle operating costs, traffic accidents, and greenhouse gas emissions to provide a more comprehensive assessment of public transportation investments.
Author Profile
Dimas Wisnu Haryoko is a graduate researcher in the Master's Program in Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya. This study was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Ir. Budi Witjaksana, M.T. and Dr. Ir. Hanie Teki Tjendani, M.T., whose expertise includes transportation engineering, infrastructure planning, public transportation systems, and sustainable mobility development. Their research focuses on transportation planning, travel demand analysis, operational performance, and infrastructure investment evaluation.
Source
Haryoko, D. W., Witjaksana, B., & Tjendani, H. (2026). Examination of Operational Strategy and Economic Viability of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Along the Porong–Pasuruan Route Through Four Step Model Analysis. Formosa Journal of Science and Technology (FJST), Volume 5, Issue 7, pp. 1733–1744. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/fjst.v5i7.104. URL : https://journalfjst.my.id/index.php/fjst
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