An Idea for forcing myself to use viaducts/NAM stuff

[dcadn13 0]

So, after years of playing around and being silent here, I decided to do something in a region that had to do with when a community in a region had to deal with transit issues. The thing I was looking at was how to use the pieces of the NAM to build a better, more logical transit system and rules for it. 
The first issue I found myself toying with was a set of rules for when certain things either had to be implemented or could be implemented, based on city square size and population, and why. 
Having just watched a bus cruise by that day with one of the "Operation Lifesaver" ads, about rail crossing safety, it hit me that many communities try to reduce/eliminate grade (surface/same level) crossings of streets/roads/aves/1ways over rails. I'm still tinkering with the idea of what the rules are for this, things like population levels the cities in the region would have to implement them, and how much of a reduction of such would be required. I'd like to lay out the rough rules I laid out for myself here for others to pick apart/add their two cents worth to, just to see what others think of it. Been playing around with it in the big Greater Chicago region so far, just to try it out, might add a CJ once I figure out how to share out the images of what the heck went on as I developed the rules, how they tweaked, but that is after I get some feedback. 

Thanks, and here is what this fool of a Mayor has stuck himself with so far. I call it the IRE Initiative or Project, variously, in the album shots taken so far. 
 

IRE (Incident Reduction Engineering) Project:

SimFederal Mandate to reduce grade (surface) rail-road/rail-transit crossings for safety of all travelers

Rules:

1: No grade crossings allowed for Road/Ave/1Ways, Streets allowed, but only 1 grade crossing per 1K ResPop, after a community passes 10K residential population are allowed..

2: Transit crossings at grade discouraged before 25K, after 25K new constructions must avoid, after 75K must begin removal/change to other style crossings before 100K.

3: As part of IRE, mass transit transition from Heavy Rail to Light Rail (GLR/SUB/EL) starts at 25K, and must be complete by 100K, except for HSR/GHSR Bullet Services, but until that works, use Monorail Service to cover those.

4: Exemptions for Ag/Rural Townships, Towns, and Cities allowed, but in those, Res pop must be <5K, 10K, 25K respectively, and must comply as urbanized. Also, Communities can opt out of IRE's Mass Transit by implementing bus service, but must still comply on HR separation of Cargo from Transit, by shifting to Intercity Monorail, and closing all but cargo/freight stations. 

5: While HR can suffice on one service yard per 250K regional population (but prefers a 1:100K ratio), Light Rails must have a yard in EACH community served, even if small (construct using the Roundhouse or Service Building [the ones provided were bad so make your own is better, and more flexible]). Larger systems (City Blocks require this) must have a main, and at least one or more secondary LR service yards, based on size of system (figure each one is 

6: Dead-End Grade Exemption: Any Spur/Terminal Line that is for freight/cargo transfer only may have grade crossings, as long as not in residential/commercial areas (Industrial/Ag/OpenSpace). Further, Rural communities of under 10K are exempt from mandated compliance, but are encouraged to keep main roads from having grade crossings (to utilize viaducts more in my builds). 

 

I know I'm missing some ideas here, and started working this out like some real law would look, as if the fools at the SimFederal level got overly bored and decided I needed to have a greater challenge in running my city, as I said... will update it as I get it worked out. 
If this has been done before, waive me off it, fast. Please. 

[whiteboybob 43]

 

We had a similar discussion a while back. It has a bunch of tips and house rules to make a more realistic city.

[Turjan 1,048]

I'm still tinkering with the idea of what the rules are for this, things like population levels the cities in the region would have to implement them, and how much of a reduction of such would be required.

 

Mostly traffic density on the railway track, then traffic density on the road. There's a city of 300,000 inhabitants which is known by the moniker "either it rains or the railway crossing gates are closed" (which of course is a totally false distinction, as it's usually both). There isn't always enough space to remove level crossings. If the railway traffic is very heavy, like in this example, the gates are closed most of the time, and all the road traffic has to rush through in the breaks.

[dcadn13 0]

Thanks Bob. Will look at them, see what needs incorporating into my house rules! 
Glad I ain't the only one this obsessive with it.