Analysis of the Economic Impact of Traffic Congestion on Highways with a High-volume Capacity (VC) Ratio in the Special Region of Yogyakarta

Abstract

Traffic congestion poses significant challenges to mobility and economic productivity in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, particularly along highways characterized by high Volume-to-Capacity (V/C) ratios. This study aims to quantify the economic impact of traffic congestion by integrating Value of Time (VoT), Vehicle Operating Cost (VOC), and Degree of Saturation (DS) parameters. Using mixed-method quantitative analysis and traffic data from the Yogyakarta Transportation Office (2023), the study calculates the total economic loss caused by congestion across six arterial corridors. Results indicate that the average V/C ratio ranges from 0.82 to 0.95, resulting in a 15–20% increase in VOC and daily time losses equivalent to IDR 18.6 million per corridor. The findings demonstrate that congestion significantly reduces travel efficiency and contributes to rising operational costs, underscoring the need for adaptive traffic management and data-driven infrastructure investment.