DEVELOPMENT OF A ROUTE-BASED EFFICIENCY INDEX FOR URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT BASED ON A THREE-DIMENSIONAL ASSESSMENT

The article addresses the challenge of evaluating the efficiency of individual urban public transport (UPT) routes under conditions of rising car ownership and limited municipal resources. A methodological gap has been identified through the analysis of existing approaches: the lack of a route-oriented, spatially differentiated, and competition-sensitive methodology adapted to million-plus cities. A new method – Route Efficiency Index (REI) – is proposed, integrating three dimensions: transport-operational, socio-spatial, and competitive. Using data from the GLONASS automated control system, GIS analysis, and fare policies, the REI was calculated for three routes in the Central District of Voronezh. The results confirmed the applicability of the methodology for route ranking and evidence-based management decisions.