Integrated assessment of urban public transport using accessibility indices and user perceptions in Aktobe, Kazakhstan

 This article presents the results of a comprehensive investigation into the transport and infrastructural conditions influencing the development of public transportation in the city of Aktobe, Republic of Kazakhstan. The central aim of the study is to conduct an integrated spatial-functional assessment of urban public transport services in a context of rapid demographic growth, increasing motorization, and peripheral urbanization. The rationale arises from the limited availability of empirical research focused on second-tier post-Soviet urban centers where public transport remains under strain. Methodologically, the study employs a mixed-methods approach comprising geographic information systems (GIS)-based spatial analysis, stratified sociological surveying of 501 residents, and a set of statistically derived transport accessibility indices. Two composite indicators – the Public Transport Availability Index (PTCI) and the Integrated Transport Service Index (IPTSI) – were calculated based
on service frequency, stop density, population coverage, and average waiting time. The results of the study reveal pronounced spatial asymmetries in transport provision: whereas central districts demonstrate a high level of accessibility and user satisfaction (over 80%), peripheral and suburban territories remain significantly underserved (below 30%). Although certain digital innovations (such as fare card systems and vehicle monitoring) have been introduced, systemic deficiencies persist – namely, insufficient network coverage, irregular service intervals, infrastructural degradation, and weak modal integration. The study argues for the necessity of a strategic reconfiguration of the route network, coupled with the introduction of environmentally sustainable transit solutions. Among the strengths of the study is its synthesis of spatial, perceptual, and infrastructural data into a single analytical framework capable of supporting evidence-based policy recommendations. However, its temporal scope limits dynamic forecasting potential. The findings possess broad applicability for medium-sized urban centers in transition economies and may serve as a reference point for rethinking public transport modernization strategies under conditions of constrained institutional and financial capacity.