ON THE ROAD TO UNDERSTANDING: EXPLORING TEUKU UMAR UNIVERSITY STUDENT MOBILITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR CAMPUS TRANSPORT SYSTEMS

Abstract

Teuku Umar University (UTU) is a prominent public university located in Meulaboh City, West Aceh Regency, situated in the Southwestern part of Aceh, Indonesia. With the passage of time, the student population at UTU has been steadily increasing, with 6,636 active students enrolled in the academic year 2021-2022. This growth has raised concerns about traffic congestion and the demand for additional parking spaces around the campus, primarily due to an increase in the number of students using private vehicles. Such transportation trends have resulted in significant external costs. To address these challenges and promote sustainable mobility solutions, the implementation of public transport has emerged as a potential remedy, offering faster mobility options, especially for the student community. However, despite the potential benefits of public transport, UTU lacks a public transportation service within a ±5KM buffer zone from the campus. Consequently, this research endeavors to delve into the daily activities of UTU students in their commuting patterns to the campus, critically analyzing their mode choice decisions. By understanding the prevalent daily activities and travel preferences of the students, this study aims to identify the extent to which students would respond to the implementation of public transportation within the ±5KM buffer zone from the UTU campus. The research is designed to be pioneering in nature, aiming to provide valuable insights and recommendations to develop a feasible and effective public transportation project within the ±5KM buffer zone. By incorporating the student perspective and preferences, this study seeks to contribute towards the creation of a sustainable and student-friendly transportation system that would not only alleviate traffic congestion and reduce external cost expenses but also contribute to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions associated with private vehicle use.