METHODOLOGY FOR EVALUATING THE EFFICIENCY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATION IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN TRANSPORT SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

One of the key challenges facing modern cities is the need to ensure the effective functioning of the transportation system under growing mobility demands. Urban development, increasing employment rates, and the expansion of urban areas significantly increase the volume of trips, primarily through the use of private cars. Excessive motorization leads to overloading of road networks, traffic congestion, delays, reduced travel speeds, and longer trip durations. These problems result in a higher incidence of traffic accidents, deterioration of air quality, increased noise pollution, and rising greenhouse gas emissions. Such consequences pose direct threats to public health and environmental sustainability. In addition, a substantial part of urban space is allocated for parking and expansion of road infrastructure, which limits the development of public, recreational, and pedestrian areas. The combination of these factors contributes to the spread of chronic diseases, increases psycho-emotional stress levels, and reduces the overall quality of life in the city. In response to these challenges, there is an urgent need to shift from the current transport policy to a sustainable development paradigm. This approach emphasizes the prioritization of environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and socially inclusive modes of transport. Public transport plays a central role in this model, and enhancing its competitiveness and efficiency is essential for establishing a balanced and sustainable urban transport system. Providing high-quality public transport services helps reduce dependence on private vehicles, lowers traffic loads, and improves environmental conditions in urban areas. The evaluation of public transport performance should take into account not only the technical and economic indicators of transport operators but also passenger-related costs, which may be both objective and subjective. Furthermore, it is important to consider external costs caused by the negative environmental impacts of transport, particularly pollutant emissions into the atmosphere. Applying such a comprehensive approach enables a more accurate and well-grounded assessment of the efficiency of the transport system, which forms the basis for its further optimization within the framework of sustainable urban development. This article proposes a methodology for assessing the efficiency of public transport operation in the context of sustainable urban transport development, taking into account the costs incurred by transport operators, passengers, and the environmental impact of transport processes. Future research will focus on developing a target function for optimizing the urban transport system.