Traffic problems...

[Raichuu]

Hey,

the higher the city grows, the more traffic I have. What can I do against it? I use already some special-big streets. But I can't add them to every little street, can I? So, is there a strategy to solve this?

[ZergCraft27]

Do you have NAM installed?

[Raichuu]

Yes, "sadly" I have. There are too much options for that average-potato player^^

[[☥] - CJ -]

Did you install the Traffic Simulator Config tool that came with it?
That does a wonderful job at keeping you from going bankrupt.

Anyway.. only thing you can really do is upgrade streets to roads and add some highways and over passes.

Avenues tend to help with traffic as well.

[ZergCraft27]

Where is the main traffic build up, around your residential areas? Have you put in bustops and a rail network?

[Raichuu]

Well, I actually have no kind of traffic build up. I divide the city always into two areas: Left = Green/Blue, right = industry. And in the middle is a long-way highway. Depends on city-size, the middle is smaller/bigger empty and has either one or up to three highways from left to right. And there is never traffic. But in the population-area ... instantly traffic. No idea what to do, cant build to every place that 2-line streets. And about the rail network, I never understood it. I wish I would. Is there actually a way to do such "above the city"? So that I can build below and still have less traffic? Of course I have to understand first how I build that... ^^

[ZergCraft27]

The easiest solution is to use subways. Subways are the easiest way to place rail networks but also cost more than above ground rail networks, so watch your budget early on. Just place subways in high congestion areas (like you would bustops). You could also try Avenues with trams, they work pretty well around residential areas.

[Raichuu]

Trams... never understood that, too :/
And I did already a lot of avenues... but they just dont work everywhere. What do you think, how much I would need of subway stations for a ~70k population city?

[Raichuu]

And just additionally, how much should be green/yellow/blue of total area?

[Ilja]

Trams are cool. I love them - they really make the city more alive -, but (IMO) they should be used alongside with subway. Latter does not create air pollution, while light rail does.

About questions, we could take a classical SC4 approach and see what you have been up to. Could you show us a screenshot(s) of area in question?

[Raichuu]

I'm currently not playing the game and anyway I destroyed that city few hours ago. The traffic alerts annoyed me^^ It was like right side full green, middle blue, left yellow. Every area was used, so no empty spaces. I just ask because so I won't do that mistake again. Even if I dont know my mistake^^

[ZergCraft27]

You should use the Highway pieces included in NAM, these allow much more traffic as you can have up to 10 lanes! Also, long straight roads are better for avoiding congestion. Just start a new city and have a play around with the pieces in NAM, start with ''Real Highway'' pieces just to get the hang of it. There are some good guides on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OzGIt2Zuc8

[phrontisteries]

The easiest method for reducing traffic is to find where people want to live versus how they get there. You build roads as half-streets, connected to avenues with bus stops and subways under, then connected to a highway (usually going around in a circle). The highway bit is usually for the medium or large maps. Otherwise, you have no need of a highway unless you are connecting to another city for megalopolis purposes.
Don't believe me? Try it.