Optimizing the Financial and Service Performance of Distressed BRT Systems in Makassar City

Muhammad Rusman; Andry Yusdi; Dwi Handayani; Mansur Maturidi Arief

doi:10.48084/etasr.17679

Authors

Muhammad Rusman Department of Industrial Engineering, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia
Andry Yusdi Department of Industrial Engineering, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia
Dwi Handayani Department of Industrial Engineering, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia
Mansur Maturidi Arief Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics, School of Engineering, Stanford University, California, USA

Volume: 16 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 35395-35402 | June 2026 | https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.17679

Received: 22 January 2026 | Revised: 15 March 2026, 28 March 2026, 1 April 2026, and 3 April 2026 | Accepted: 4 April 2026 | Online: 12 May 2026

Corresponding author: Muhammad Rusman

Abstract

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in developing countries face serious sustainability challenges that can lead to route closures and threaten public access to affordable transportation. This study demonstrates that a Multi-Objective Goal Programming (MOGP) approach can improve the economic viability of BRT operations by allocating a fleet responsive to variations in passenger demand. Optimization of the KM5 Corridor in Makassar reduced fleet requirements from 17 to 13 buses, with a daily deployment of 5–10 buses; transformed a monthly deficit of IDR 18.7 million into a profit of IDR 15.6 million; increased the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) from 0.81 to 1.24; and maintained a load factor above 70%. These findings demonstrate that appropriate operational optimization can support a more sustainable transportation system without additional reliance on subsidies. The proposed model provides a data-driven decision-making framework that balances financial sustainability and service quality. The operational scenarios analyzed also consider the current fleet availability (17 buses), while several additional scenarios are included to illustrate potential performance improvements with future fleet expansion. Further research is proposed to apply the Goal Programming (GP) method to various public transportation routes to optimize the overall fleet distribution and to conduct periodic evaluations of fleet distribution and dynamic passenger demand.

Keywords:

benefit-cost ratio, bus rapid transit, load factor, goal programming, emerging economies

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