Analysis of Traffic Congestion in Densely Populated Residential Areas Based on Infrastructure, Transportation, and Urban Planning (Case Study: Ketintang, Surabaya)
Abstract
Traffic congestion is a major urban transportation challenge resulting from the imbalance between rapid motor vehicle growth, limited road capacity, and uncontrolled land use development. This study analyzes the factors contributing to traffic congestion along Ketintang Street, Surabaya, a strategic corridor connecting the Ketintang area with Ahmad Yani Street and Gunungsari Street, where traffic conditions deteriorate to severe congestion during peak hours. A descriptive qualitative case study approach was employed using field observations as the primary data source and the Rencana Detail Tata Ruang (RDTR; Detailed Spatial Plan) of Surabaya, Transportation Agency data, and relevant literature as secondary data sources. The findings identified three principal causes of congestion: (1) the transformation of residential land into mixed-use commercial development without corresponding revisions to spatial planning policies; (2) infrastructure deficiencies, including an unpaved at-grade railway crossing and insufficient road capacity; and (3) operational and regulatory issues, such as inadequate traffic signs and pavement markings, illegal on-street parking, informal street vendors, and increased traffic generated by student travel during peak campus hours. The study recommends integrated interventions comprising short-term operational measures, including traffic management and enforcement against illegal parking; medium-term infrastructure improvements, such as paving the at-grade railway crossing and widening the roadway; and long-term spatial planning measures through revisions to the RDTR and the expansion of public transportation services. The findings confirm that traffic congestion along Ketintang Street is a multidimensional problem requiring coordinated management across the transportation, infrastructure, and urban spatial planning sectors.