On the modernization of the water passenger transport system of St. Petersburg: geographical determinants

Abstract

The Russian transport industry chosen as the object of research is in a state of deep depression. In addition to the purely economic reasons for the current situation (a decrease in production potential, a drop in traffic volumes, low investment attractiveness and competitiveness of industry enterprises, a decrease in the effective demand of the population, etc.), the deterioration of hydrological navigation conditions, pollution of river arteries, degradation of coastal infrastructure, etc. affect the low efficiency of river transport. This circumstance actualizes the stated problem of improving the water passenger transport system of St. Petersburg from a geographical position. The latter is attributed by the author to a polystructural, heterogeneous type of coastal character, characterized by qualitatively heterogeneous aquatic components, seasonal climatic variability, mixed nature of transportation, a sufficiently powerful coastal infrastructure base, etc. The purpose of the study is to deepen the existing and develop new geographical approaches to improving the economic and social efficiency of passenger transportation by water transport in relation to the conditions of one of the largest cities in Europe. The methods used are system and geosystem, abstract-logical, cartographic, etc. The authors consider hydrological, climatic, geological and geomorphological factors, the ecological state of rivers and channels, the development of coastal infrastructure as determining the development of the industry. The author analyzes the possibilities of forming intermodal passenger transportation, taking into account the public function of inland water transport in St. Petersburg. At the same time, the social, rather than commercial, effect of its activity is considered as the main imperative positions; seasonality and uneven loading of the passenger urban fleet; taking into account the schedule for the commissioning of new residential complexes in the zone of influence of the Neva, its tributaries, channels and the Neva Bay. It is concluded that the share of passenger water transport services provided in the excursion and walking segment of St. Petersburg can be sharply increased, thereby contributing to regional accumulation, creation of new jobs, economic and social development of Petrodvorets, Kronstadt, Zelenogorsk and other coastal suburban places.