Transportation

Transportation takes on many different forms in the city of Moscow, Russia. Some modes include trolleys, taxis, trams, the Metro, buses, and automobiles. From day to day, there are over 2.6 million cars traveling the roads of the city. Post-Soviet Moscow now endures thick traffic jams. A study of traffic jams conducted by the internet company Yandex found that the average driver in Moscow spends 11 hours a month standing still on the road in jams that would block roughly 1,500 cars at a time.

In 1935, the first line of Moscow’s Metro was constructed. In the years that followed, the Metro system expanded to serve mainly the inner city. Following the 1970s, a trend emerged where newly constructed Metro lines to the outskirts lagged behind residential development. Currently, the Metro has twelve lines and 177 stations. Moscow’s Metro is famous for its ornate chandeliers, murals, art, and mosaics. The Metro is not only one of the busiest subway systems in the world but is also one of the deepest subway systems in the world. It serves more than nine million passengers per day.

Several train stations also serve the city of Moscow. There are nine rail terminals, and they are all located close to the city center. Each terminal handles trains from different regions of Europe and Asia. When Russians travel to neighboring cities such as St. Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city, they prefer to travel by train because tickets are relatively inexpensive.

For long-range and intercity travel, Russians also use the bus system. The Central Bus Terminal has a turnover of about 25 passengers serving approximately 40% of the bus routes in the city. Moscow also has regular ship routes as well as cruises along the Moskva and Oka Rivers. Such travel is typically just for entertainment. Constructed in 1937, the North River Terminal serves as the main location for long-range river routes.

A final way to travel to and from Moscow is by air. There are five main commercial airports that service the Moscow area. These airports are Sheremetyevo International Airport, Domodedovo International Airport, Bykovo Airport, Ostafyevo International Airport and Vnukovo International Airport. Sheremetyevo International Airport handles about sixty percent of the international flights to Moscow, making it the most common point of entry for foreign travelers. On the other hand, Domodedovo International Airport handles the most passengers overall and rivals Sheremetyevo in terms of international flights. The other three airports go to destinations within Russia and the former states of the Soviet Union.

With so many different avenues of travel, Russians can rely on getting from place to place easily. The most inefficient mode of travel in Moscow is probably the automobile due to the heavy traffic conditions. The most popular way of travel, as a result, is the Metro. However, if going from city to city, Russian citizens often prefer to travel by train or bus. Some even elect to travel by river. Finally, if visiting Moscow or flying within Russia, the five primary airports are easily accessible.

- Alissa Mandernack