In the United States, transit is done differently than in the rest of the world, and I think such a map/scenario would make for a different way of playing Cities in Motion.
In the US, transit is heavily subsidized and relies heavily on bus systems, especially in the Western United States. The fare only covers between 20-30% of what it actually costs to operate a bus here. The rest is a public subsidy, and for that reason transit is considered as welfare mobility for the poor. Perhaps some of your income could be based on your public subsidy, and it would change depending on how well your transit company is perceived. If this proves to be too complicated to implement, it's not a big deal. The most important part is how the map plays.
Traffic is heavy here, so trams are out of the question in a US scenario. Metro is also too expensive for the less dense US cities. So I think putting in light rail between tram and Metro would be an awesome addition for a possible US map. It would be cheaper than metro (but slower) and allowed to go underground or be elevated, but also in the street (in dedicated lanes, i.e. you give up a lane of car traffic for light rail vehicles). And light rail vehicles would be able to turn around at stations without loops.
So what would make an ideal candidate for a US map? Los Angeles 1980. The map would have these geographical features. There would be a relatively dense downtown, with a long street of dense buildings jutting out to the West (Wilshire Blvd), and a river crossing on the East (it doesn't have to look perfect). Outside of downtown and the long dense street would be relatively less dense areas with plenty of spots (abandoned row) to build commuter rail lines. Between North and South there would be a mountain crossing that you'd have to contend with.
There would also be an overcrowded and extensive bus network in this map. Crowding would be severe, and part of the challenge is finding places for rail lines in order to relieve the bus lines (and upgrade the vehicles in the interim).
Your job would be to balance the needs of the suburbs and the needs of the denser core by developing a rail network. The map and goals would be based on how Los Angeles developed its rail networks over the years.
Train and transit sims tend to ignore the US, and especially Los Angeles. I think the Cities in Motion team could reach a new audience with such an expansion/DLC. I think it would be a great $20-$30 item if LRV were added to the game, even if the subsidy mechanic were not implemented.
In the US, transit is heavily subsidized and relies heavily on bus systems, especially in the Western United States. The fare only covers between 20-30% of what it actually costs to operate a bus here. The rest is a public subsidy, and for that reason transit is considered as welfare mobility for the poor. Perhaps some of your income could be based on your public subsidy, and it would change depending on how well your transit company is perceived. If this proves to be too complicated to implement, it's not a big deal. The most important part is how the map plays.
Traffic is heavy here, so trams are out of the question in a US scenario. Metro is also too expensive for the less dense US cities. So I think putting in light rail between tram and Metro would be an awesome addition for a possible US map. It would be cheaper than metro (but slower) and allowed to go underground or be elevated, but also in the street (in dedicated lanes, i.e. you give up a lane of car traffic for light rail vehicles). And light rail vehicles would be able to turn around at stations without loops.
So what would make an ideal candidate for a US map? Los Angeles 1980. The map would have these geographical features. There would be a relatively dense downtown, with a long street of dense buildings jutting out to the West (Wilshire Blvd), and a river crossing on the East (it doesn't have to look perfect). Outside of downtown and the long dense street would be relatively less dense areas with plenty of spots (abandoned row) to build commuter rail lines. Between North and South there would be a mountain crossing that you'd have to contend with.
There would also be an overcrowded and extensive bus network in this map. Crowding would be severe, and part of the challenge is finding places for rail lines in order to relieve the bus lines (and upgrade the vehicles in the interim).
Your job would be to balance the needs of the suburbs and the needs of the denser core by developing a rail network. The map and goals would be based on how Los Angeles developed its rail networks over the years.
Train and transit sims tend to ignore the US, and especially Los Angeles. I think the Cities in Motion team could reach a new audience with such an expansion/DLC. I think it would be a great $20-$30 item if LRV were added to the game, even if the subsidy mechanic were not implemented.
