Entry 36 : Transitways Pt 1 : LRT (5E136)
Heya! Let's go back to Vesper Bay!
Now Vesper Bay is not the prettiest town. In fact it's my go-to town for testing new mods and assets, more than a really CJ worthy town. But this is where I built my first tram network, so let's take a look
Today let's focus on the tram / LRT. There's also a BRT in the making though!
The journey begins at the train station (which is being rebuilt)...
For some time, the line runs directly on the street, and passes in front of the city hall.
After that, the line goes in the middle of Federal Avenue. Most of its run is in the middle of two-lane roads. Express buses can also use the tram lanes.
Two trams cross at the foot of Canal Street.
A few stops later, the trams stop in the middle of Ilessan Circle, which doubles as a very nice square to stroll into and a bus hub.
After that, the line splits into two branches.
The Green Line branch splits west to serve the towering residential complexes and housing projects uptown.
Quickly the line stops at the new Ministry of Magic building. Most stops are like this : a platform in the middle of the road and pedestrian crossings at either end.
Finally the line turns back south on Ashmont Avenue, which is known for its middle-density building developments along it.
The P61 roadways goes under Ashmont Avenue and the tram tracks here.
The line carries on until the depot at the edge of the city. This ensures the Green Line serves higher density areas and links them straight to downtown in less than 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, the Blue Line carries on south. The Blue Line has twice the ridership of the Green Line as it links the second biggest city in the area, New Balmora.
The tram line actually goes on its own tracks from there on. Pedestrians and bicycles also run on this new bridge, which frees up the old bridge to vehicular traffic only. It runs parallel to Federal Avenue. You can see how the tram lines runs almost straight, while the roadways goes up and down to follow the terrain.
View of the tram tracks running parallel; between the tracks and the roadway the city has encouraged commercial development.
There is a special cycle lane next to the tracks which goes all the way to New Balmora.
The line then reaches New Balmora. Initially this was the end of the line and it went around the loop, but since then the line was extended into downtown New Balmora.
The line crosses the A4 road...
Finally it ends in the middle of New Balmora, by the bus terminal!
However the system doesn't really go to other places. Almost no buses in industrial districts...
...or in the countryside.
And if you want to head to the quarries and mines around the city, you're so out of luck.
Same if you live in the far flung southern suburbs!
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But hey, maybe a BRT could solve these problems! After all, BRTs are more flexible and cheaper than LRTs, and can match the speed of LRTs, albeit less confortably. Despite more labour and maintenance costs they're decided on an east west busway anyway!
Finally, a map of the network. Vesper Bay authorities decided to go for the spartan, cheap look - more cynical passengers find it fitting, as they claim the network is always plagued with delays and breakdowns. Hmh. :/
Anyway thanks for reading! I'll try to post more regular entries about my winter city soon enough :3
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