ello (@piers)

#Putin: "Colleagues, good afternoon, today, we are discussing a matter of paramount importance for millions of our fellow citizens: **the development of public transport**. "Three years ago, we considered these issues and adopted a series of targeted decisions. Since then, we have seen certain positive developments; nevertheless, a considerable number of challenges persist in this sphere. "Public transport is about the ability to reach one’s workplace, kindergarten, school, university, or outpatient clinic quickly and in comfort. Let me recall that we have set ourselves the objective that, by 2030, in agglomerations and cities, the share of rolling stock whose service life does not exceed the prescribed standard should reach at least 85 percent. This requirement encompasses all forms of public transport and, I would underscore, also applies to towns with populations below 50,000. I would ask you to report today on how this task is being fulfilled. "At the same time, it is evident that the mere renewal of the fleet does not in itself guarantee convenient and high-quality transport services. It is essential that trolleybuses, trams, buses, and commuter trains adhere to their schedules, that passengers travel safely, and that fares remain accessible. This must be the case in our major metropolitan centres, in small towns, in rural areas, and indeed in remote localities – and, of course, in core communities. "Mobility is one of the fundamental factors of modern life. People must be confident that transport issues will in no way impede their plans or daily concerns, and that all the circumstances of Russian families’ lives will be duly taken into account. Accordingly, when organising transport services, we must respond to the requests of local residents and address the needs of large families. For instance, according to surveys conducted by the Russian Popular Front, the largest number of complaints concern violations of route schedules: sometimes – as is well known – buses arrive one after another in a convoy, while at other times people are left waiting for them for hours. "Colleagues, modernising public transport, alongside healthcare and housing and utilities, is a key priority for regional and municipal authorities. Our country already has examples of comprehensive, genuinely breakthrough public transport reforms that are genuinely focused on residents’ needs. Major cities such as Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, and Chelyabinsk are leading the way. The Omsk Region is a leader in digital integration, and the Kemerovo Region was among the first to introduce a contract-based system for public transport. Rapid modernisation is underway in Primorye and here, in Buryatia. In the Murmansk Region, transport is being improved with the northern Arctic environment in mind, and in the Ivanovo Region, a ground-level metro system recently opened. "These achievements are not only the result of budget funding and other investment instruments. Smart, forward-looking management approaches play a huge role – above all, the close alignment of transport systems with urban development policy, including consideration for the growth of core communities. "It is also important to make greater use of artificial intelligence capabilities to forecast demand and streamline schedules and route networks. Such technologies can dramatically improve the efficiency of public transport. "I would also ask you to bear in mind the need to implement quality standards for public transport, as required by current legislation. At present, only 34 Russian regions have adopted them. The Government, together with the State Council, should therefore assist the regions by developing a set of indicators that characterise the quality of public transport services. "Subsequently, it will be necessary to amend the Infrastructure for Life national project to include specific benchmarks. These will provide a basis for evaluating regional performance in this area. "Colleagues, upgrading public transport requires considerable financial investment. Overall, there is a clear trend towards modernisation across the country: modern buses, trams, and electric buses have appeared on our streets as a result of federal programmes, regional procurement, and leasing arrangements. Since 2020, over 20,000 vehicles have been replaced as part of this fleet renewal. "However, given the heavy burden on regional and municipal budgets, passenger transport remains one of the most vulnerable sectors. For most regions, addressing these challenges continues to be a challenge. "The relevant commission of the State Council has put forward proposals for additional funding sources. First and foremost, it proposes channelling a portion of road funds towards the modernisation of public transport [...]." Kremlin (10.8.26); p (4) http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/80502