Is it Possible?

[Forty-Seven 2]

Do you think its possible to lay out all the avenues and roads, highways and rapid transit, and all city amities, providing for excellent commute times and organization and overall efficiency... from the start?

I’ve tired it once but always ran out of money, as the small population was not nearly enough to make up for all i had in my city, but with some of the mods i saw here, and perhaps some moderation, and planning ahead Without Building (like building city block by block, but keeping a logical pattern).

Basically while a Grid plan with large block for maximum development and still small enough to be easy to get around is great for a bustling city, it just doesn’t seem to work in a small town. And Your city has to start out as a small town... if you decide to adopt the grid plan or other organization method after budling your town, you are forced to destroy countless homes, often enough to considerably reduce tax income, not to mention utilites, landmarks, rewards, etc, if you use it from the start, your town has trouble developing and you go bankrupt.

Or you can, as I have usually done, just kept expanding, and adding a loose grid by placing avenues trough my city (trying to cross the least populated areas, minimizing Sims thrown out of homes), and then bus systems as the quick and easy method for adding Mass Transit, then later on subway. But then after that there is nothing you can usually fit. At this point your city has grown far too big to add in a Highway, rail, El-train, monorail, without tearing down half your city. It’s impossible to lay out in a developed city without heavy consequences.

So, has anyone met with success at efficient city planning form the start? For this I’m generally referring to using the LARGEST CITY SIZE AVALIBLE in-game, I think I may try at it again, downloads like subway and bus stops on the road make life a hell lot easier, as just one bus will ruin a nice square block, often forcing a few small developments where there could have been room for a high-rise... or a few cheat lots if i get into money problems, so I don’t have to type "weakness pays" every 30 seconds to prevent form going bankrupt in the early stages, as long as I’m self sufficient once the city has developed

ok, I went on quite a rant here, and I have horrid spelling mistakes, and I’m not even sure if anyone has the patience to read all this (I know I would not). I’m not even sure if this is really a good topic, just a mindless rant perhaps.

Ah what the hell, please discuss.

[McJason513 1]

I think it's totally possible! You probaly have to get the mod so that the easy mode is 10 million dollars. I have tried it several times inmedium tile so iy probaly possible to do it in a large tile.

[UnkleS27 24]

its definitely possible. I almost always start my cities by laying out the major road and railways and then building off of and around them. And yes, money trees do grow in my regions. But it is possible, if you plan on laying out every road and transit line it might get boring but you can do it

[Jasoncw 11,934]

It's always good to consider the future when building your city anyway.

[Camaron 1]

I generally use the classic pen and paper method as a good alternative when planning the future. This method also works but you may need to cheat to get the required money.

[Forty-Seven 2]

i just notice slow devopment hwen i implemet the gridplan form the start, perhaps becase i give a gargantuan area for Residential, meaning some areas anre very distant from the large commercial secotr and industrail sector, dispite extreamly direct routes and mass transit

[ACEfanatic 7]

One thing to consider:

If you lay out the entire city, all good and well, but develop in segments. Otherwise the simulator will stagnate - too many choices for new construction. You'll also get more consistent densities.

Gradual growth > Fast growth.

-ACE

[gparent 0]

I've been practicing at building planned cities so that one day I could get a city journal. I basically (badly) terraformed my terrain, planning where I want a bridge, a mountainous area, a quiet district, etc...

Then I built all the roads, using some interesting sights (Roundabouts, etc...).

Then I decided where I wanted the residential areas, and placed it. I made the commercial area by planning it to be around a main avenue to reduce traffic. Then I placed the industrial area a bit further in the map, and made a semi-long road going to the trash dump.

A railroad links the three areas I mentionned, although they also have road connections. I put bus stops BEFORE the citizens started building, else you find yourself constantly destroying homes.

Of course, I'm using ordinances to make this a painless process. I don't think I would be able to achieve a real city building (All planned in advance) without heavy use of cheats.

On the city I made without using Ordinance, you end up fighting pollution once you get your solar arrays, and the traffic is generally bad.

Including avenues generally mean mayhem if you didn't plan in advance where you wanted them.

I think the best planning would be a central avenue which leads to most of your districts - This way you reduce traffic a LOT.

[jmjselect 0]

BUS STOPS

I have a city with a population with around 30,000-40,000. with about 90% of streets(the grey ones) and I have hella bus stops. all the roads are green and all the commute times are very short(even for those who travel from one side of the city(med sized) to the other end to commute to a neighbooring city).