LEFT BANK RISING UPON THE BEGINNING OF THE TWELFTH YEAR

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HAPPY ELEVENTH ANNIVERSARY!

Yes, I know it's one day early - the anniversary isn't until the second of the month - but I have the update early this year . There may be more material soon, and if so I will post that then - ooh, a more than annual update schedule? How ambitious of me . The dense strip of development as detailed in my years-ago master plan for future development of Franklin County is what I have been building recently - more specifically the east side, or left bank (since downstream faces south the east side is to the left) of the Franklin River. Below is a picture of the new downtown Left Bank (of the North River city tile), shot during the golden hour. Note that generously proportioned roads are used as the backbone of the city's transportation system - indeed in game it doesn't even have mass transit, though buses and subways will be added if necessary, perhaps connecting to the right bank's high-speed rail line. I also would not altogether exclude the possibility of high-speed rail lines along the eastern side of the downtown, particularly if new less dense development appears further afield toward the northeastern plains of the county. Ground light rail inside the avenue medians could easily connect the eastern mass transit backbone with neighborhoods further toward the waterfront. Possibilities, possibilities...

Further south from the Left Bank's core, one can see how dense development arrays itself around avenue roundabouts, bearing a superficial resemblance to lily pads in a pond. Note how the arterial roads in the newest developments are efficiently cleared of any connections with homes or businesses, instead only connecting to local streets.

Skipping north of the center of town one can see that high structural density continues much further afield northward. Also notice the complete lack of traffic lights - all junctions are handled with yields or roundabouts, thus enabling traffic to flow freely across the city.

Having sightseen the city in the reddish hues of sunset, time has gotten away from us and night has fallen. One by one the offices, residences, and hotels brighten up, forming into a man-made lightscape - quite beautiful in my opinion, especially gazing westward as we are here:

Below is a gorgeous close-up of one of the most aesthetically pleasing parts of Left Bank:

Pivoting ourselves to the Franklin River, we can at last gaze upon the waterfront in its full glory - notice the apartments arrayed in a strip along the seawall in a pattern characteristic of desirable riverfront real estate (east is up, the new development is toward the top of the image):

Downstream we can see another view of the Left Bank's downtown:

Pivoting our gaze northward and with day having broke, we can see another view of the northerly portion of the Left Bank's downtown:

Looking more closely one can get a good view of the rush hour traffic characteristic of the new area:

Even more rush hour traffic may be seen from this view - and much to our consternation traffic jams uncharacteristic of the country are starting to appear. Perhaps tomorrow Franklinites may have a chance at relief, since the government's annual term is up - they'd better hope, or else their transportation system's much-vaunted reputation as being arguably the world's most effective may become a national embarrassment. Interim measures are already being considered, though if it does not trend worse most are inclined to let the issue go for now.

We close our downtown tour on this day with a sunset shot of one of the more aesthetic roundabouts of the downtown area:

Zooming way out and looking eastward we can see a good big picture of how everything looks with regard to the central and southern portions of the new strip. I will let this image speak for itself:

And secondly, the central and northern portions:

I will close by giving a good in-game view of the traffic situation, centered in the northern portion of the Left Bank looking southward. You can also see that more than 100 000 sims have been added on with this development alone - as I said in previous updates there is a population explosion going on in this stage of Franklin County's development:

Last but not least, to anyone wondering this is how the new development looks at the regional level - notice that I haven't added anything on to the other city tiles, but one can visualize how things will turn out if my designs reach completion:

Well, that's all for the undecennial update, which is also by my official count update number 420, a nice round number. When I have significant new developments I will try to post a new update promptly. Here's to a twelfth year much better than our eleventh, and to the twelfth year of Franklin County being one of its best yet.

Any of your comments, suggestions, or questions are as always welcome.