Cities: Skylines notes

As I use Cities: Skylines I want to share tips and tricks I learn while I build my maps and cities.

The game scale

Game elementReal life size
1 cell8 meters
1 tile240 cells = 1920 meters
9 tiles17,280 meters
Zoning grid depth4 cells = 32 meters
Curb30 cm high, as roads are sunken into the terrain.
Basic road2 cells = 16 meters wide
Asphalt 10 meters wide
Vehicle lane 3 meters wide
Parking lane 2 meters wide
Four-lane road4 cells = 32 meters wide
Asphalt width including the median 22.4 meters
Asphalt width on each side of the median 8 meters
Median width 6.4 meters
Vehicle lane width 3 meters
Parking lane width 2 meters
Highway rampWidth 12 meters
Asphalt width 8 meters
Lane width 4 meters
3 lane highwayWidth 22 meters
Asphalt width 18 meters
Lane width 4 meters
Train tracksGauge 1.6046 meters
Distance between rail centers 1.724meters
Rail width 11.94 cm
Distance between the centers of 2 parallel tracks 4 meters
Tram tracksSame as train, but the distance between the centers of two parallel tracks is 3 meters
MonorailTrack width 66 cm
Distance between the centers of two parallel tracks is 3 meters.

Elevations

The Cities: Skylines game use multiple units to display elevations and distances.

ToolUnitRelative to
Landscaping toolmetersLowest elevation (0 meters)
Roads toolRoad segment length 1 unit = 8 metersRoad segment start
Fine Road Tool modmeter
Precision engineering modmeterLowest elevation (0 meters)
  • The Landscaping tool’s Level Terrain feature shows the elevation in units, relative to elevation 0. The original ground level is at 60 unit elevation.
  • The Roads tool displays the road segment lengths in units. 1 unit is 8 meters.
  • On the Options page of Klyte’s Fine Road Tool mod set the units to metric or imperial units.
  • The Precision Engineering mod shows the road segment length and elevation in meters relative to the original ground level of 60 units. Press the Shift key to see this extra information.

Minimum clearances

AboveBridge height
Cruise ships32-33 m
Ferries12 m
Railroad, roads12 m

Water

Water sources in games

In the map editor, you can add water sources to your maps. In game mode, the original game does not have the means to add more water sources. Subscribe to BoodyPinguin’s Extra Landscaping Tools mod to add water sources in your games.

Sea level

In the map editor you can set the sea level by typing a number, the mod in the city only uses the mouse to drag the sea level up and down. To set the level more precisely

  • Use the Landscaping Tool’s Level Terrain feature to create a small flat top island in the sea.
  • Select the Water tool, and select the Move Sea Level option.
  • Move the mouse up and down to set the water level to the top of the island.

Containing waste water pollution

When you discharge waste water to lakes and the sea, it can pollute the drinking water supply. Place a water source with the water level lower than the lake or sea level. It creates a drain to generate a current and remove the pollution.

Traffic

If the traffic is too dense, turn on vehicle despanning. When the vehicles arrive to their destination they disappear.

  • Subscribe and activate the TM:PE (Traffic Manager: President Edition ) mod
  • On the top of the screen click the TM:PE Main menu button (looks like a traffic light)
  • In the upper right corner of the window click the Toggle automatic vehicle despawning button to turn on despawning.

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