Urban hub

[dentonfire 7]

How would i go about making one of my cities a hub for dentinations, jobs, and traffic? Like.....make my city actually seem like the capital due to the traffic.

[Bdub01 201]

I like making several surrounding cities first, then when I'm ready for my "main city" the demand is usually high enough to build the "capital". Also much like the real world not all surrounding cities have huge airports, universities and major league stadiums. Don't put them in all your cities, otherwise your cities are just carbon copies of each other.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Well, I got mine by accident, and it is not in the middle but in the south-western quarter of my region.  Not particularly pretty but the population is getting up to 700K (soon, I think).  It is, however, a major hub with ports, highways crossing, and lots of independent districts within the city.  I just got the spaceport (and yes, before anyone asks, I have the fix).
 


This city has been growing since Sept. 2012 and has come to this naturally. It started out as a port, and 'jes growed'.  400+ Sim-years.  Very rich.  All taxes with the exception of I-D (20%) are set to 6.5% and we still have a rather indecent monthly profit.  The dark blob in the north east by the river is the little forest surrounding the country club and the very expensive mansions that are adjacent.