Methodological Approaches to Agent Management in Urban Transport Development Projects under Decentralization Conditions

The article examines the current methodological approaches to managing agents in urban transport development projects under conditions of decentralization. The necessity of adapting managerial mechanisms to new administrative-territorial realities is substantiated. A classification of agents involved in transport projects is proposed, considering the levels of management, competencies, and interests. The relevance of the study is determined by the increasing significance of the transport system as a key factor in ensuring sustainable development of cities in the context of deepening decentralization processes. The transfer of powers to local self-government bodies underscores the need to review existing approaches to managing transport infrastructure, particularly in coordinating the actions of numerous agents – governmental, municipal, belonging to private and public structures involved in urban transport development projects. The imbalance of institutional interaction, the absence of coordinated decision-making procedures, and the limitations of management resources at the local level complicate the effective implementation of transport initiatives. The aim of the study is to provide a theoretical substantiation and develop methodological approaches to managing agents in urban transport development projects in conditions of decentralization, which ensure coordinated multilevel interaction among the participants of the project process. Within the scope of the study, the author has developed a typology of agents managing transport projects and characterized their roles in the project cycle. The influence of decentralization on the decision-making system in the field of urban transport has been analyzed. A conceptual model of multilevel management of agents under conditions of decentralization has been formulated. The findings of the study confirm the necessity of transitioning to an integrative management approach based on the principles of horizontal interaction, transparent distribution of responsibilities, and enhancing the institutional capacity of municipal structures.