Subject. Spatial centrality of the Russian Federation subjects and its connection with transport mobility and infrastructure parameters. Objectives. Assessing the connection between spatial centrality and the intensity of passenger and cargo transportation, as well as the characteristics of the road network. Methods. Calculation of the Shimbel index as the sum of geodesic distances between regional administrative centers, correlation analysis, quartile grouping. Results. It has been found that the Shimbel index reflects not only the geometric position of a region but also differences in the level of transport development. The strongest link is seen between spatial centrality, the quality of the road network, and truck freight turnover. Railway passenger transport shows a more complex, trunk-and-node pattern and is therefore less connected to overall geometric centrality. Quartile analysis confirms that being on the periphery shows up not just in lower transport volumes but also in a different structure of regional transport specialization. Conclusions. The Shimbel index is seen as an analytical basis for justifying measures to improve interregional connectivity and infrastructure balance. The findings of the study can be used in spatial planning.
Keywords: Shimbel index, spatial centrality, subjects of the Russian Federation, center–periphery, transport infrastructure, spatial connectivity, interregional differences
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