ULAN-UDE, August 10. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a meeting on public transportation development in Russia, which was held by the State Council Presidium. He took part in the meeting via video conference.
TASS has compiled the head of state's key statements.
Problems in public transportation
The President noted that although many problems in public transportation remain, there have been some positive changes recently.
"We discussed these issues three years ago and made specific decisions then. Since then, positive changes have been noted, but there are still many problems in this area," he said.
Convenient services and safe travel
Renewing the public transport fleet alone does not guarantee convenient service. Travel must be safe and accessible: "It's clear that fleet renewal alone does not guarantee convenient, high-quality transport service. Trolleybuses, trams, buses, and commuter trains must run on schedule. Travel must be safe and affordable. This should be the case in large cities, small towns, rural areas, remote areas, and, of course, in key communities."
Transportation services must be organized considering the needs of residents, especially those of large families: "When organizing transport services, we must consider the needs of residents and be sure to take into account the needs of large families."
Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Chelyabinsk, and Omsk are leaders in providing convenient public transport.
Public transportation in Donbass and Novorossiya must be restored, and the route network must be expanded: "Public transportation in our historical territories is an important issue. We must pay close attention to restoring transportation, modernizing, and expanding the route network."
Use of AI
Putin has called for accelerating the deployment of artificial intelligence capabilities to improve public transportation efficiency.
"It is also crucial to increasingly use artificial intelligence to forecast demand, as well as optimize schedules and route networks. Such technologies can drastically enhance the efficiency of public transportation," the Russian leader noted.
Financing
Public transportation development is costly, and passenger transportation in the regions remains the most vulnerable in terms of funding: "Due to the high burden on regional and municipal budgets, passenger transportation remains one of the most vulnerable."
It is necessary to expand the use of targeted subsidies for regions to equip stops and improve transport infrastructure. The transition to long-term procurement contracts would facilitate planning for companies producing vehicles: "It's time to move more rapidly toward creating long-term contracts lasting several years. This would significantly simplify the planning process for companies producing vehicles. I ask my colleagues to make the necessary decisions here."
The Concept of a ‘guaranteeing carrier’
The law does not yet define the concept of a "guaranteed carrier," but this approach could be promising.
The introduction of a "guaranteed carrier" will facilitate the systematic procurement of equipment, but could exacerbate the risk of monopolies.
Suburban rail transportation
"I expect that all necessary decisions regarding commuter rail service will be made in a timely manner."
This issue is complex, but "it is of huge importance to citizens": "I know that the [relevant]work is underway.".