Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project (Big Dig)

[raul39 0]

Hi, I just downloaded this and its amazing. But I found a problem, after I plop a tunnel entrance, the game crashes 2-3 minutes later. Can you help?

[ag1010 0]

I installed the pluggin. But when I go to look for it in the Transportation section, I can't find anything. Can I have a conflict with another pluggin???

[joost.ueffing 0]

Originally posted by: ag1010 I installed the pluggin. But when I go to look for it in the Transportation section, I can't find anything. Can I have a conflict with another pluggin???quote>

 

It's in the Transportation-Misc section.  In mine, it's towards the middle of the menu.

[blahdy 21]

Starting the construction of front entrance/lobby area... going to take a while but at least i got the basic door-set installed :-P

[owenluby 1]

Looking great!

I love the tunnels... they rock!

[cooli 0]

Why do you can it so very great ?

it looks like the reallyti

[SupremeGeneral 0]

Originally posted by: WeirdOne

Originally posted by: joost.ueffing Hi there...

First, the highway connections are working great. I'm getting traffic going through it and everything. Will definately use it in more cities

A couple of questions:

- there is only one subway connector for the highway entrance / exit. Is that deliberate?

- Because of that, I'm getting traffic flowing both ways in one of my two tunnels because I've connected both to the connector, and flowing in one direction (the way it's supposed to) in the other. Is that the incorrect way to do it and if so, what is the proper way to do it?quote>

 

To add to his post, I am testing these lots in highly dense residental areas (i've been non-stop testing and monitoring since the release), and here are my *small* areas of constructive criticism:

1) the subway connector should ideally be at the "end/tunnel" portion of the lot. Currently it variates somewhere in the middle and is a pain the you know what to connect and get to function correctly. I spent a good hour trying to figure out why sims weren't using the lots despite the fact that they were connected on the ENTIRE lot by subway. It should ideally be at the "end/tunnel" portion for easy finding and easier deleting if you mess up placing the subway tiles.

2) As joost.ueffing stated, traffic flows in both directions and is EVEN more messed up if you happened to connect across several subway tiles. See diagram below:

xxx|x|xxx

xx|-|-|-|xx

xxx|x|xxx

vs.

xxx|x|xxx

xx|-|x|-|xx

xxx|x|xxx

The x's are just to make the spacing correct. The | are vertical and the - are horizontal subway tiles. When the ramps connect accross two subway lines or more (1st above diagram), they will create all sorts of crazy "driving patterns" to reach the shortest commute time instead of following the direction the single direction of the subway line. Therefore users have to be *REALLY* careful to connect only to one side of a dual/triple/quadruple+ "main artery line" (2nd above diagram).

3) Your lots are amazingly good at convincing RICH sims to use the tunnels as and avoid the surface roads for some reason. I surrouned 4 (5000+) $$$ residentals with a few tunnels and thousands of rich sims flock to them. I don't know if it's intended or not, but works great! Also, if bus traffic, etc was incorporated, I imagine tunnel usuage might skyrockets. I'm getting ready to top out the 10,000 limit in one particular tunnel. I'm hoping to replace it with some of your new lots when they come out.

4) I was hoping I might make some suggestions for future lots that you might consider (THE FIRST SET IS AMAZING!) I'm sure most of these are already in the works, but, I'd like to place them forward incase they weren't planned:

a) "Y-Shaped" lot where one branch is exit and the other entrance and also additional entrance only and exit only ones. (3 possible lots)

b) "Avenue To Tunnel" lot (thought I already saw a screenshot, so not biggie)

c) "Subway To Elevated Rail" lot in order to help those of us with EXTENSIVE subway networks. I have an extensive subway network and would GREATLY appreciate a subway to elevated rail lot in order to help with subway track re-routing for the underground portions. Since the current subway to el-rail transfers are 3 tiles, they take up precious space that some condensed portions of my city don't have space for, so, such a transfer would help greatly.

d) "Tunnel To Surface To Tunnel" lot because I noticed portions of the real Big Dig surface only to submerge again without an exit and would LOVE such a connector piece. Putting two of them together takes up 8(!!!) tiles, therefore a more condensed version would be awesome. Maybe a 6-tile lot for oneway, regular road, avenue, and highway? (even instead of the "Subway To El-Rail" lot as the subway could continue uninterupted below the small "surface" portion, thus creating a really simle work-around to dividing a city into TWO separate subway networks.)

ONCE AGAIN, thanks for the the amazing work so far. These above things were only meant as constructive criticism, so please feel free to tell me that it's not possible (I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF BAT, LOT, etc abilities). 

Amazing work, and I *EAGERLY* look forward to the next installment. And I'll continue testing them to see how they function in these big areas. quote>

[SupremeGeneral 0]

Originally posted by: WeirdOne c) "Subway To Elevated Rail" lot in order to help those of us with EXTENSIVE subway networks. I have an extensive subway network and would GREATLY appreciate a subway to elevated rail lot in order to help with subway track re-routing for the underground portions. Since the current subway to el-rail transfers are 3 tiles, they take up precious space that some condensed portions of my city don't have space for, so, such a transfer would help greatly.quote>

If it helps I found a rail to subway transition thats 2 tiles long on a Jap site. I know that you said EL Rail but, its the closest thing to what you want. http://hide-inoki.com/bbs/archives/sc4_0224.html

[WeirdOne 0]

Okay blahdy,

Here's some photos to illustrate my problems. Also, *THIS IS MY FIRST TIME POSTING PICS*, so mods, please take pity!

1) Directional Flow and Usuage of Entrance 1:

 Notice how the direction flows both in and out of the tunnel. The one way is connected in the right direction all the way to the end of the tunnel (just to make sure) and in the underground view, you can see the subway connections.

2) Here's the exit directional flow and usage:

The one ways and subways are connected the same way as the other one. See the last underground picture for full set.

3) Here's the underground photo:

What am I doing wrong? Or this somekind of bug I've somehow managed to fall prey to? I hope I can have those problems resolved. Also, before someone says connect the two in the middle, don't. I have an exit furthur down as well as an entrance. I made it like a real highway, you wouldn't cross over the median, and plus, I've tried that, it only makes it worse!

HELP!

[K1A 0]

Hey there, if u look at the "read-me" included with the project, it says to fix that problem with the traffic goin both ways is to have at least one "one-way road" tile between the tunnel entrance and the intersection

[blahdy 21]

WeirdOne: yup, as I was said and as K1A has just said, you need to push your ramps one tile back, and there must be at least *one* or more of one-way tile that's pointing to proper direction heading between the intersection (in your case, an avenue) and the ramp itself.

With exception of what I and K1A said, your highway setup is well done.  You have a dedicated tunnel tube for each direction.  That's how I built in my test city, and that's how it's done in the real big dig in Boston, and that's how I envisioned these lots would be used with careful network planning.  So you just need to push your ramps back by one tile and make sure one-ways connecting the ramp to its nearest intersection such as avenue, road or street is pointing to right direction (toward the ramp if it is on-ramp, toward the road/avenue/street if it is off-ramp).

[blahdy 21]

A new small update:

The upcoming brand new on/off-ramps will feature improved entrance electronic sign that is more thinner, slightly more detailed, and is readjusted to match very close to its real-world counterpart:

[nycsc4 5,250]

looks great!!!

[SC4Noobie 5]

Blady, your stuff is too real for the game! You even put in a fire alarm!! OMG! I like the new sign, just don't detail too much, cause your making my $%&^! BAT's look like boxes in front of your lots. :sad: lol, great work!

[Lemonades 0]

Hey Blahdy, I must say your lots are AMAZING and you keep improveing them. That vent building is looking great!  I can only hope to be as good as you someday.  

Your lots seem to fit in where ever I put them, I had trouble deciding what to put in a industrial section of my city but once I fiddled with your lots I found the solution.

[warrior 169]

Originally posted by: rual39

Hi, I just downloaded this and its amazing. But I found a problem, after I plop a tunnel entrance, the game crashes 2-3 minutes later. Can you help?quote>

i had the same problem. i had left hand drive (English) but the tunnel portals are right hand drive so i downloaded a mod which switches the direction of traffic to right hand drive and now it doesnt crash and the tunnel portals work propaly.

the mod is here https://www.simtropolis.com/modding/index.cfm?page=1&keyword=left

[WeirdOne 0]

Thanks K1A and blahdy!

Comments like that are a real pat-on-the-back. If you notice in the underground photo, I have those large Subway clusters (part of Union Square block). I can't figure out how to connect them. They used to be connected where the "highway" sits now. Does anyone have any creative solutions? Or perhaps, will a 6longx2wide piece come out that rises above the ground and sinks again be possible .

Also, I changed the postions and they worked fine for a minute or two and then no one uses them anymore. Very unusual. I guess the larger the network expands, the more usuage I'll see.

[raul39 0]

"regarding my question"

I have the right hand version so that wouldn't work for me, thanks anyway!

[K1A 0]

Originally posted by: WeirdOne Thanks K1A and blahdy!

Comments like that are a real pat-on-the-back. If you notice in the underground photo, I have those large Subway clusters (part of Union Square block). I can't figure out how to connect them. They used to be connected where the "highway" sits now. Does anyone have any creative solutions? Or perhaps, will a 6longx2wide piece come out that rises above the ground and sinks again be possible .

Also, I changed the postions and they worked fine for a minute or two and then no one uses them anymore. Very unusual. I guess the larger the network expands, the more usuage I'll see.

quote>

Hey there, thanks!! btw i think maybe u can divert the subway line itself from the Highway so that it wont interfere with the traffic unless u want the subway traffic to go into the highway

[blahdy 21]

Picture of the on-ramp model with the newly improved electronic/entrance sign installed:

The ramp's tunnel boat section will be improved and an entrance direction sign and vehicle height sensors will be installed for next update release.  The tunnel boat wall section will be redone using improved modelling techniques so that more different types of ramps can be made with ease.

[van1357 15]

Thanks for sharing these amazing lots with us all Blahdy. I haven't used them yet, but I have checked them out in-game and they are wonderful. The new signs look great, along with the vent building. Can't wait to see what's next...

[Sim shady 12]

This looks fantastic! i can't believe you are improving on your on and off ramps when the are already so...perfect. Well i guess a perfectionist's job is never done! Keep up the great work. i can't wait for an update.

[svenskaost 0]

i love you

[cowkilla 12]

^^ha ha, going nicer and nicer!. that shot of the tunnel on the peninsula makes me want this finished all the sooner

[Madhollander 0]

Originally posted by: WeirdOne Thanks K1A and blahdy!

Comments like that are a real pat-on-the-back. If you notice in the underground photo, I have those large Subway clusters (part of Union Square block). I can't figure out how to connect them. They used to be connected where the "highway" sits now. Does anyone have any creative solutions? Or perhaps, will a 6longx2wide piece come out that rises above the ground and sinks again be possible .

Also, I changed the postions and they worked fine for a minute or two and then no one uses them anymore. Very unusual. I guess the larger the network expands, the more usuage I'll see.

quote>

Well, first of, great tunnel setup, nice and clean, I like that.

Personally i have this little subway to rail tunnel ramp that i use all trough the game to make my subways go above ground, wich is quite common since in real life it would save a sh!tload of money to build it.

I once took it out of the chinese bat thread, i'll see if I can find it for ya.

For Blahdy and all the others who made this project a succes i have a question:

Do you know the expression: Sticking a feather in someone's *rse (sound really weird translated to English from Dutch) ???

Well if you do, Im off to find a chicken. . .

great work guys. . .

-------------------------------------------------

Edit

Found one (not the one i meant though, i'll keep looking)

this one's from Ragutaro check his page it's the 4th from the bottem.

http://hide-inoki.com/sc4/buildings_bat.htm

Also NDEX made one but it looks a lil industrial (and is not the one i meant)

https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?page=3&Keyword=subway&type=all#

[SC4BOY 21]

Originally posted by: MadhollanderPersonally i have this little subway to rail tunnel ramp that i use all trough the game to make my subways go above ground, wich is quite common since in real life it would save a sh!tload of money to build it.

I once took it out of the chinese bat thread, i'll see if I can find it for ya.quote>

These are rather well-known lots and not near as sophisticated as this one.. Though they were pioneering efforts.

 

[DuskTrooper 316]

Well, I just wanted to post how I use these FW thingies in here(if you don't mind...).

(of course, you can see the BETA NDEX tunnel thingy.)

[Madhollander 0]

Ok, ive let it sink in and now i see what ur saying, but i don't mean any one of these 2

I got this nice light yellow like tunnel entrance with 2 small trees at the end, i'll see if i can make a lil pic in the game, it also came with a sunken rail boot piece.

gonna take me some to do so though. . .

Picture of the one i mean is in the link (imageshack.us)

ok, since i cannot seem to add a link

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1382/nieuwestad5jan001154373928dl4.png

[Muntted 0]

Wouldnt that make underground intersections? or is that the idea?

Originally posted by: DuskTrooper Well, I just wanted to post how I use these FW thingies in here(if you don't mind...).

(of course, you can see the BETA NDEX tunnel thingy.)

quote>

[rodent1989 9]

as if this weren't revolutionary enough, i just realized I can now make tunnels that connect two cities.  unlike the old tunnels which required you to stay in the same city tile, now an underground network can branch out and go underwater without the stupid "land bridge."

however, I'm hoping the next version updatses the mac capacity bug because this is brilliat work and everyone should get to enjoy it.