Transport accessibility problems of the isolated settlements in Russian European Arctic zone

Abstract

The article identifies and analyzes the list of settlements in the Russian European Arctic regions that are not provided with year-round ground transport accessibility with another territory, that is, are not included in regional and federal land transport networks. The year-round ground transport accessibility concept is introduced as the availability of a year-round transport connection with the core federal highways network on hard-surface roads providing year-round operation along the entire length, or by rail, with possible transfers (congestion) between roads and by rail. A database and GIS of this settlements category are compiled; a quantitative assessment of the resident population living number in them is given. Quantitative estimates indicate an extreme unevenness between the settlements number in the existing Russian European Arctic settlement network and the distribution of their population. The features of the internal Arctic regions transport systems are identified and analyzed from their optimization point of view taking into account the isolated settlements presence. Based on the study, recommendations on specific problems of the island and other isolated territories development, including the use of “local” transport modes, transport and pedestrian infrastructure are formulated.