Traffic problems

[Ryuunin 0]

Hello there builders,

a few weeks ago I started out with this city a few months ago after picking Sim City 4 up again after a long time.

The main problem I am running into now is that there is a bit of a traffic issue.there are bus stops and even a subway system and elevated rails. (Both are in use to unreal amounts of ppl 800%)

However after the last growth the city center seems to have super high traffic.

My question is that this is indeed a problem but is it harmfull to the further growth of the city? And if it is what would be the best way to solve it?

Something I also noticed is that removing some conections forces the sims to use th highway but even that gets congested.

Many thanks for taking a look and hopefully some advice

Kind regards Ryuu

Added a regional view of the traffic data based on congestion.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

You don't say, but are you able to use the NAM? (Game must be Deluxe/Rush Hour, minimum version 1,1,638).

You might consider double-tracking your subway, or provide multiple layouts.

Overall, growth should not be limited by traffic. In the CBD congestion is good.

[Ltw 401]

Doubling tracks like A Nonny Moose said is indeed a good solution. You also might to try to place your subway stations next to the track instead of on the track (subway stations have a lower capacity than the track itself, at least, that's almost always the case).

I don't know how you're zoning this city but it seems like the problems occur on places where there are less tracks in place. When I build big cities I make a grid so that the sims have to walk as less as possible. That might be a solution (it's very expensive thought so if you don't have a lot of money that might be a bad idea). Furthermore you could try to connect your subway to your EL train at a lot of places.

Could you upload a screenshot of your zones? Zoning could explain a lot of your congestion, Simcity 4 is a simulation of home to work traffic, so you have to connect residential zones and commercial/industrial zones very well. Looking at the picture above it is probable that the congestion on the track under/above the river is caused by home-work traffic. Screenshots of your zones might help so that you could know for sure what the cause of congestion is at every track.

[Ryuunin 0]

Thanks for the tips guys!

Double tracking sounds good. I also downloaded RHW for NAM last night see if that helps out a bit since most of the traffic follows the highway since most of the avenues dont connect to other Cities. So far added some more subway stations and more bus stops.

Here are some more screenshots of what the zoning looks like. most of the pop is R$$ or R$$$ and the demand for high wealth has become negative lately.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[z1 566]

The main problem I am running into now is that there is a bit of a traffic issue.there are bus stops and even a subway system and elevated rails. (Both are in use to unreal amounts of ppl 800%)

However after the last growth the city center seems to have super high traffic.

My question is that this is indeed a problem but is it harmfull to the further growth of the city? And if it is what would be the best way to solve it?

First of all, since you say that you are picking Sim City 4 up again after a long time, do you have a current version of the NAM installed? The most current one is version 30; version 29 would also be OK. But if you're using anything older than that, you are most likely using an obsolete traffic simulator, which can cause lots of problems.

If you're using a current version of the NAM, congestion does cause problems, but they tend to be minor. They shouldn't significantly affect the growth of your city.

If your rails are at 800% of capacity, you should also consider upgrading to a higher capacity version of the NAM traffic simulator. The easiest way to do this is to download the and use the Traffic Simulator Configuration Tool to change the base network capacities. This download will also guarantee that you have the latest version of the NAM traffic simulator.

You also need to make sure that your stations can handle the large amounts of traffic passing through them. Either download high capacity stations from the STEX, or use Ilive's Reader to increase the capacity of your favorite stations. You can also use to get high capacity bus and subway stations; these stations sit right on the road, so they don't take up any extra space. If you do this, be sure to get the as well, as it has crucial updates and fixes.

You also might to try to place your subway stations next to the track instead of on the track (subway stations have a lower capacity than the track itself, at least, that's almost always the case).

This suggestion is not necessary, since unlike all other mass transit stations, subway trains don't actually go through the station. As a result, the through traffic is not counted in the used capacity of the station.

I don't know how you're zoning this city but it seems like the problems occur on places where there are less tracks in place.

This makes sense; the traffic simulator likes to see a lot of rapid transit. Usually, this is most easily accomplished by putting in a lot of subways (and stops).

When I build big cities I make a grid so that the sims have to walk as less as possible.

When using the NAM traffic simulator, this is not necessary. The old commute time limits are not in place, so Sims can afford to walk a bit. Nevertheless, the bigger the city grows, the more necessary it is to have lots of rapid transit. (Highways seem to work equally well, but they take up lots of space.)

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I like your layout, except I think I would have a smattering of R$$$ hidden away in the middle of your CBD. The little strip malls in the R areas are very typical, and I encourage more of them, with appropriate bus/rail transport.

[Ltw 401]

Nice zoning!

It seems like the problems mostly occur on places where there are commercial zones, like the congestion on the left side. Furthermore there is congestion between the residential zones and the commercial zones and between the residential zones and the industrial zones. What you could try with the congestion between the residential zone and the commercial zone (from the left to the right) is doubling the track and connect it to more tracks at both sides (you could for example connect the track at the right side to the green track, so that not every train is going through that partly unnecessary bend). For the problems from your residential zones to your industrial zone you could try to build another track directly from north to south (right from the already existing track), you could also connect this track at more tracks in as well the north and the south. It might help to connect the track to that track which is going north-west, that might help against some congestion from east to west.