The Prime Road Avenue (PRA) Project

[MandelSoft]

The Prime Road Avenue (PRA) Project

I'm having an interesting idea in mind the last few days:

Currently, we have multiple-lane road network like the Maxis Highway, the Rural Highway and the avenue. But the problem is that I'm missing one network between the RHW and the Avenue, a road network that can do the same thing as an motorway, while it's technically not an motorway. So I'm proposing Prime Road Avenues (or PRA)

The idea is that the PRA are using the techniques of the RHW mod and the Rural Road mod at the same time. It's a completely puzzle piece network (just like the Rural Roads), based upon the standard avenue network. The network should also have exit and entrance ramps (just like the RHW). We could use the MIS ramps for these PRA interchanges (why would we create something that already exists?). Currently we have to use the RHW network as a workaround. Another idea is modular turning lanes for at-grade intersections, so people can easily choose the turning lane setup of the PRA.

You may think "what's the use of this network? We already have avenues, right?" Well, there are some situations where PRA's can be useful:

   - Main routes in rural envoirments. The Maxis avenues look like they are only planned for city networks only. Example
   - Main city routes. These routes only have intersections with other main city roads or intercity roads/motorways. Example
   - Important non-motorway national routes, because the PRA can make interchanges like motorways. Example
   - City rings. These roads have the same properties as the main city routes. The only difference is that it's layed out in a ring shape. Example

There are only a few problems:
- I have no experience in RULing and making puzzle pieces. Actually, I don't know how to make it functional. So someone has to learn me how to do that or doing it for me.
- I don't know which IID's I'm allowed to use. Otherwhise, I might get ID conflicts.
- I don't know if anyone else sees a future in this project. When not, this project can be dead from the beginning. So I do need support before this project can get off the ground.

I can make texures and T21 exemplars, so that shouldn't be a problem.

I would like to hear any opinions and thoughts about my proposal. All comments are welcome.

Best,
Maarten

[carkid1998]

I think this is a good idea!

It could be developed as a sort of Avenue SAM (or a AAM, Avenue addon mod).

Here in Britian we have many cases of this, not quite highway, more than ave.

I would definately like to see this developed!

[WC_EEND]

I agree with carkid, this is definatly something I'd like to see developped. I'd love to help, but I have got no knowledge of anything whatsoever (except some basic lotting skills) and I'm willing to learn.

[carkid1998]

I'm the same as WC_EEND.

I wanna help, but I only really have lotting skills!

[Dexist]

yeah i like this idea, i was making "rings" around my city. but RHW nor MHW nor AVE did just not look right.

i am looking forward to his one 

[kbieniu7]

In Poland it's called "expressways". I think it could be made from RHW, just without collision-free intersections. 

I have lack of wide one lane roads with roadside . I know they are in RHW, but they have no wide curves.
But I don't know anything about making them so I'm sitting quietly 

[Fresh Prince of SC4D]

This sounds like a good idea but would only connect to certain networks (like how maxis highways only connect to ave, owr, and rhw)?

[pilotdaryl]

I think you mean that you would like a RHW with proper functionality of any zones (including residential, business and industrial) next to a RHW.  I would like that functionality as well.

[sithlrd98]

Count me in! I would love to offer any assistance that I can. I have a little experience with textures , but given the right direction I think I could be helpful.

Jayson

[RebaLynnTS]

As I understand it, the reason RHW does not have that functionality is, because it is based off the unfinished network maxis had left in the code. A version based on Ave's should work fine. This really would only need to be a texture over ride (like SAM). The problem is finding someone to do it

[z]

In Poland it's called "expressways".

Yes, in California and other parts of the US West Coast, this is what expressways are as well, as opposed to freeways, which are like the Maxis highways.  (Not to be confused with what are called expressways in much of the rest of the US, which are like Maxis highways.  )  This certainly would fill a gap in the Maxis transportation system.

[wes.janson]

As I understand it, the reason RHW does not have that functionality is, because it is based off the unfinished network maxis had left in the code. A version based on Ave's should work fine. This really would only need to be a texture over ride (like SAM). The problem is finding someone to do it

Isn't that why we keep Alex (Tarkus) around? 

I kid.. I kid

[choco]

first step would be to start the textures.....


any takers? 

[z]

Isn't that why we keep Alex (Tarkus) around? 

I hear that he's got an opening twelve years from next Monday... 

[MandelSoft]

first step would be to start the textures.....


any takers? 

I said I could make textures for this mod (see top post)

[metasmurf]

Are you going for something like this?

[WC_EEND]

I think that's the idea

[kbieniu7]

This is what I meant "wide one lane roads with roadside" 

[Tarkus]

Maarten, this is a rather intriguing idea here.  I've actually been planning to have a set of Avenue/MIS Ramp Interfaces as part of the RHW mod for awhile now as it is, too, so that part is easily taken care of.  The number of pieces that would likely be involved shouldn't be too daunting.

The modularized turn lane idea is rather interesting as well . . . that's something I've been thinking about for some time.  That sounds like a mod in and of itself, too.

I've got a lot of projects on my plate right now, but I'd be happy to help you out with learning RULs if you were interested, and could provide technical advice when needed.

I think you mean that you would like a RHW with proper functionality of any zones (including residential, business and industrial) next to a RHW.  I would like that functionality as well.

Actually, after some reports I got from Casper (caspervg) and metarvo awhile ago, I did a test awhile ago (which I had forgotten about until now) to get definitive findings on RHW zone functionality, as it was seeming that the blanket "no RCI" was probably not entirely accurate.

This pic demonstrates my findings with the RHW-4 rather nicely:



It seems that the "overridden" RHW networks can support Commercial and Industrial zoning, but not Residential.  The RHW-2, however, does not support any zoning at all.  A rather bizarre finding, and I haven't really been able to pinpoint why this phenomenon occurs, other than the fact that the RHW-2 isn't an override.

-Alex

[JoeST]

I hear that he's got an opening twelve years from next Monday... 

Better book it quick, 'twill probably be taken soon