<![CDATA[Background: Traffic congestion in the Greater Bandung Metropolitan Area (KMBR) has evolved into a complex governance challenge characterized by a “conflict paradox,” in which localized traffic interventions unintentionally generate congestion spillovers across administrative boundaries. Despite regular intergovernmental coordination, congestion remains persistent across the metropolitan region. Aims: This study examines how policy network fragmentation contributes to the conflict paradox and assesses the effectiveness of collaborative governance in metropolitan traffic management. Method: A descriptive-explorative qualitative approach was employed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with transportation officials from five jurisdictions within the KMBR and complemented by regulatory document analysis, including West Java Provincial Regulation No. 12 of 2014. The analysis was guided by Van Waarden’s policy network framework and Ansell and Gash’s collaborative governance model. Results: The findings reveal that metropolitan traffic governance is constrained by fragmented institutional structures, asymmetric power relations, and predominantly non-binding coordination mechanisms. Although coordination forums occur regularly, collaboration remains procedural rather than strategic. The prevalence of parochial ego-sectoralism encourages jurisdictions to prioritize local political and budgetary interests, causing traffic interventions to shift congestion problems across boundaries and reinforce the conflict paradox. Conclusion: Traffic congestion in the KMBR is fundamentally a governance issue rooted in policy network fragmentation and collaborative failure. Strengthening metropolitan governance through legally enforceable and integrated coordination mechanisms is essential for achieving sustainable regional mobility.]]>
