Transport in Republic of Mordovia: factors, problems and prospects

The article deals with factors of transport development in Republic of Mordovia. Good natural factors, economic and geographical position are favorable for developing the transport industry in the region. The ground transport is the most common one in Mordovia. Waterways transport lost its relevance and significance by the end of the 19 th century. Construction of asphalt and bitumen concrete plants and opening of large gravel quarries in Mordovia in the 1960s played an important role in improving the quality of roads. On the territory of the modern Mordovia, plants and factories are placed along the highways. The transport infrastructure is of the secondary importance in relation to the territorial aspect of production. The transportation hubs create optimum conditions for developing industrial hubs and centers. An important role for developing the transport system in Mordovia belongs to cities and administrative centers; their location influences on the direction and power of the major intra- and interregional freight and passenger traffic. The article considers the modern transport network in the region by the kinds of transport. Vehicular transport carries the basic passenger and agricultural goods traffic within the region; some areas have only a road network. The article describes the results of the analysis of the road network reliability and morphology in the Republic administrative regions of, transportation problems, and the priorities for the regional transport industry development. In all regions of Mordovia, the reliability of the road network tracing does not meet the standard values, their configuration is not particularly cyclical and characterized by a polycentric. In the center of Republic, the cyclic links of the road network are of a low technical condition. The existing tree-shaped road net in Mordovia hinders the socio-economic development of the region. The main directions for developing the transport industry of the Republic correspond to the priorities of the state transport policy and are aimed at creating a modern and efficient transport infrastructure for the accelerating passengers and freight traffic, and reducing transportation costs.