Spatial and Statistical Analysis of the Route Network of Public Transport in Almaty and Suburban Areas

This study presents a comprehensive spatial analysis of the public transport network across the Almaty agglomeration, encompassing 211 routes within eight urban districts and seven adjacent administrative divisions. Drawing on digitized geodata from 3634 unique bus stops, the research methodology integrates quantitative and qualitative spatial metrics, including distribution density, average stop spacing, elevation gradients, and topological connectivity. The analysis highlights significant territorial imbalances: while 70.53% of all unique stops are concentrated within Almaty’s city limits, the surrounding regional network is highly fragmented, with an average stop spacing of 2579.53 m. Furthermore, topographic assessments confirm substantial operational challenges for north–south routing due to steep elevation changes, reaching 984.48 m within the city and 1243.23 m regionally. A critical evaluation of topological connectivity reveals that 44.63% of suburban bus stops lack transfer intersections, underscoring severe deficits in peripheral public transport provision. By assessing 56 distinct connection types, the study categorizes administrative districts based on their route integration levels. Ultimately, the derived spatial parameters offer a robust evaluation of the current transport framework. These insights establish a crucial scientific and empirical foundation for optimizing route geometries, bridging infrastructural gaps, and guiding sustainable transit planning in alignment with Almaty’s transition toward a polycentric urban model. Furthermore, the developed 3D spatial-topological framework provides a scalable, data-driven blueprint for municipal authorities to prioritize infrastructure investments, deploy multimodal hubs and enhance transit equity in other rapidly growing and topographically complex agglomerations worldwide.