Monday
August 24
2020

Analysis: Mass Transit and COVID-19: On Track for Recovery?

In April, Mexico City’s metro system – the largest in Latin America – carried the lowest number of passengers since records began in 1983.

Elsewhere, the Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system saw average daily ridership dip from 93,000 in December 2019 to 4000-5000 at the height of the crisis. By July this had recovered to about 22,000 daily passengers, or just below 25% of normal levels.

William Sabandar, president director of the Jakarta MRT, is confident that the system will recover. “We hope we will soon return to at least 50-60% of our previous average, and this will help to cover operational costs and regain the confidence of our commercial partners,” he told OBG.

“But we have to regain the confidence of our passengers, too. We have put in place very strict health protocols: you have to wear a mask and go through a body temperature scanner to enter a station, while passengers are prohibited from talking, and hand sanitisers are provided throughout the network,” he added.

Photo courtesy of Tama66.

Source: Oxford Business Group (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Coronavirus
Tags
transportation