Zikri Alhadi, H.R. Azizah, Rahmadani Yusran, Fitri Eriyanti
Public transport terminals are expected to operate as functional nodes within urban transport systems, facilitating transfers and supporting network efficiency. However, in many cases, newly developed terminals remain underutilized despite meeting infrastructure standards. This study investigates such a situation in Padang City, Indonesia, focusing on a Type A terminal that has not achieved its intended operational role. The analysis is based on a qualitative case study combining field observations, interviews with terminal managers, operators, and users, and a review of regulatory and operational documents. Rather than examining infrastructure conditions alone, the study looks at how the terminal is positioned within the wider transport system and how institutional arrangements influence its use in practice. The results indicate that low utilization is closely linked to weak system integration. In particular, limited last-mile access, the absence of reliable feeder services, and mismatched operating schedules reduce the practicality of using the terminal. These conditions affect both passengers and operators, making alternative departure points more attractive. At the same time, fragmented responsibilities between different levels of government reduce the consistency of implementation and enforcement, which further discourages compliance with terminal-based operations. Taken together, these factors create a situation in which the terminal functions below its intended capacity. Improving performance therefore requires more than infrastructure provision. Greater attention needs to be given to network integration, coordination between responsible agencies, and the alignment of operational practices with system-level objectives. This case study highlights the importance of viewing terminal governance performance as part of broader transportation system policy, rather than as an isolated facility. © 2026 by the author(s). Licensee Acadlore Publishing Services Limited, Hong Kong. This article can be downloaded for free, and reused and quoted with a citation of the original published version, under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Department of Public Administration & Research Center for Policy, Governance, Development & Empowerment, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, 25132, Indonesia
