METHODICAL APPROACH TO INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT OF TRANSPORT ACCESSIBILITY OF THE VOLGA FEDERAL DISTRICT
This study is aimed at studying tools for assessing the transport accessibility of subnational entities. Goal. Based on the analysis of approaches used in the theory and practice of regional management this paper calculates the performance indicators of the transport infrastructure, taking into account their advantages and disadvantages, offers a methodical approach to assessing transport accessibility with a view to develope tools for making managerial decisions regarding the directions of transport development. Tasks. This paper analyzes various approaches to the definition of transport infrastructure and provides a description of the main modes of transport, makes a comparative assessment of the transport accessibility of the territory by the example of the Volga Federal District, develops the resulting complex indicator of the transport accessibility of the territorial transport system Methodology. In this article, with the help of general methods of scientific cognition methodological approaches to the assessment of the efficiency of the functioning of the transport infrastructure are considered. In the course of the research, the method of economic-mathematical modeling and the principles of socio-economic forecasting were used. Results. The author’s vision of the terms «transport infrastructure» and «transport accessibility» is proposed. A comparative assessment of the transport accessibility of the territory was made using the example of the regions of the Volga Federal District with the help of indicators of the density of the transport network of the territory, transport security, Engel’s formula - Yudzuru Kato and Uspensky’s formula calculated according to Rosstat. Based on the results obtained, the analysis of the PFD regions for each indicator was carried out, and corresponding diagrams were drawn up. Within the framework of this methodology, the values of the indicator for the PFD subjects were calculated, the results of the calculations are shown in the diagram. The possibility of applying the resulting complex transport accessibility indicator at the regional level is substantiated. Its peculiarity is that it reflects the state of the transport system, taking into account socio-economic and physico-geographical factors. Conclusions. The region with the most difficult climatic conditions and highly dissected terrain, other things being equal, will have greater transport accessibility than a region characterized by a favorable climate and poorly dissected relief.