How to measure territorial accessibility. An accessibility evaluation model applied in the European Union space

• Main Authors: Cezar TECLEAN, Gabriela DRĂGAN
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi 2020-12-01
• Series: Eastern Journal of European Studies
• Subjects: territorial accessibility; transport infrastructure; territorial cohesion; european union
• Online Access: https://ejes.uaic.ro/articles/EJES2020_1102_TEC.pdf

In this paper we propose a quantitative model of territorial accessibility provided by the endowment of transport infrastructure for the European Union reference space. For this purpose, we designed a composite index calculated at regional NUTS 2 level, which includes the following proxy variables representative for the assessment of territorial equipment with transport networks: the densities of the motorways network, the high-speed rails network and the inland waterways, the number of interregional links on the motorway, high-speed railway and inland waterway, the number of airports and ports of the trans-European core network. Based on said index values, we have developed a spatial model of the deficit accessibility in the Community space and a synoptic of the possible solutions for the development of transport networks, as a prerequisite for the homogenization of the territorial accessibility and the improve of the territorial cohesion.