ABSTRACT. – The GIS-Based Road Distance and Time Connectivity Index of the Settlements within the West Region of Romania. This study is based on previous approaches to the subject of connectivity index (R. Rusu, 2007; R. Rusu, 2008) and is organically linked to the work of R. Rusu, T. Man and C. Moldovan (2013) which introduced the road distance connectivity index for the settlements of Banat. While preserving the above-mentioned index and the methodology to calculate it, this study extends the research to the whole West Region of Romania and sets the methodological framework for calculating a road time connectivity index, based on driving times from each settlement to the nearest central places of every rank. Although the values of the road time connectivity index would in fact depend more on various factors that have an impact on driving speed, it is a more reliable instrument to calculate connectivity. Settlements close to motorway entries/exits or located along or near national roads will have a better value of the time-based connectivity index than of the distance-based connectivity index. Both distancebased and time-based road connectivity indexes may represent useful tools in the planning and management of infrastructure projects, in development strategies meant to reduce territorial disparities, as well as in regional and local planning.
Keywords: West Region of Romania, road distance connectivity index (RD), road time connectivity index (RT), accessibility, isolation, settlements, GIS.