[REWORK] AZ, CA, and NV public research and rework suggestions.

[angrybirdseller]

Grew up in Chandler 35 years ago off Alma School Rd it was mostly farm fields south side of city and Gilbert was just farm town at the time. The freeways like I-10 had to take side roads to get to California at the time and superstition freeway only went to Powell Road until the early 1990s. Phoenix area in general has wide streets and grid pattern make it easy to get around and steel plant on the outskirts of Mesa, and RV depots are something be of good use in Arizona. Phoenix should sprawl and of course the canals are all over which scs got right orignally.

[Killer-Of-Night]

A few thing's Im hoping to see in the Phase 4 rework around Barstow.

1st is the old Harvey House located off of North 1st Ave. Its home to a Route 66 Museum, the Western America Railroad Museum, and acts as the station for Amtrak in the area.
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Another interesting landmark is the Barstow Station McDonalds off East Main Street, probably one of the most unique locations for a fast food restaurant.
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One last thing is the Calico Ghost town sign visible from from I-15 just outside of Barstow near Yermo, its sort of visible from Google streetcam here.
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[flight50]

I can see the Calico sign and Mickey D's making it. But the museum is so far North that the only way I see us getting that is if we can get the railyard as a depot. That justifies us going that far North. But technically we'd access that railyard before going over that bridge. Those buildings would be scenic North of the railyard though.

[Killer-Of-Night]

Maybe, though it could be added if SCS decides to add Old 58 as a backroad around the northside of Barstow, nothing really out there industry wise, but there is a dairy farm in the red square on the west side of town.
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[ElegantExcalibur]

I 100% agree with the Barstow details in some way or form. My family stayed at the KOA found at Barstow a lot, and we've visited the Calico Ghost Town a few times when we did. Having just even some subtle hints at the ghost town would be great, If not a secret road that lets you get a glimpse at it. And I think I've even eaten at that mcDonalds if I remember correctly. It was a really cool experience. Would definitely love to see that shown in game somehow.

Also, I have some details I think Yuma, CA/AZ is missing after driving through that area in game recently for map completion as well as having recently watching some videos about Yuma and the interstate 8 area:

1. I don't imagine Yuma's going to be made much bigger, but with what part of it we drive in game we're very close to Historic Downtown Yuma, which would be nice to integrate so you can drive through a scenic looking road when you're about to deliver to/from Yuma.

2. The Ocean to Ocean Highway Bridge over the Colorado river is present in game, but it's missing the rail bridge that goes alongside it right next to them on the eastern side.

3. Additionally, there is the Yuma Territory Prison State Historic Park. In game this is nothing but an empty field and part of some industry buildings even though that spot is easily visible from multiple spots the player is able to drive from, especially Interstate 8.

4. There's a few parks next to the Colorado River in this are that would also be visible to the player, such as Gateway park which I-8 goes over, and also the East Wetlands park, making it look pretty green looking along that strip of I-8. But In game Yuma in that area looks so small- especially the Colorado River- with minimal green.

As for Interstate 8: The area that seems to represent the Algodones Dunes (aka the Imperial Sand Dunes) definitely needs a touch up, there's the nice detail of tiretracks in the sand at least to represent how it's used by dune buggies and dirt bikes. But the spot in game is otherwise pretty flat with only the trail marks and a sandy texturing indicating that you're at that area of I-8 that goes by the sand dunes. There's maybe a hill representing the sand dunes in the distance, but it really doesn't match how visibly and impressively massive the dunes can get from the road view alone.
And this part is not a big deal; but it would be neat to see occasionally dune uggies and/or dirt bikes drive in the sand in this area to further establish it as the Imperial Sand Dunes, but I don't see it as big of a deal as just making the sand dunes more noticeable. When I watched some videos of the area, you could see the dune buggy and dirt bike traffic on the sands even from I-8.
Also, an inclusion of the Sand Dunes Rest Area in this area would be nice as well, maybe with a vista that lets you get a good view of the dunes.

lastly and probably not as rework related as it probably should be; it would be nice to have dust devils as a random event in the same vein we can see tumbleweeds for these states. They feel so very characteristic of southern California, Nevada, and Arizona in the desert and plains biomes. I would especially see them a lot around the roads on windy days and they remind me a lot of driving through those areas. I apologize if this isn't the best place to suggest something that is more random events/weather related, but it feels important & relevant to these regions.

[1948LJMack]

When I created a post to add the Gillig bus plant to the California rework project, somehow I did NOT see this at all. Gillig used to build their buses in Hayward although they do have a parts warehouse there. The bus assembly plant is in Livermore. Sadly the scale of the game wouldn't allow SCS to put it into Livermore because of the limited space, but they could put it along CA route 92 due to that is where the bus plant used to be. It would be a way to where cities could add deliverable transit garages to the game.

[Killer-Of-Night]

While I don't know if SCS would go back and add one, Ill still make a point for it.

Between Bakersfield and Fresno, a rest stop probably should be added so there is at least an offramp between the 2 cities.

The one I'm suggesting is the C H Warlow Rest Area, just south of Kingsburg California. Its a small rest stop, only consisting of 7 truck spots, and is only on 1 side of the highway. However the offramp its located on also has a Valero Station, with room for truck parking as well. So if added, the area can add in 2 rest areas plus a gas station. Just north of the stop before Kingsburg is also the Kings River.
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Im suggesting this one over the one south of Tulare due to the fact that the UP railroad tracks are east of 99, where it can fit in nicely on the current map, vs the one in Tulare where the tracks are west of 99.

[oldmanclippy]

On a similar note, there is no rest area or gas station between San Diego and Bakersfield heading northbound on I-5. You need to either go into LA itself or head to Ontario on I-10 in order to find one.

[Killer-Of-Night]

Unfortunately, there isn't one anywhere between San Diego and LA IRL AFAIK, and there really isn't much room to put any of the ones that exist between Castaic Junction and Bakersfield in the game, without completely moving Bakersfield up to make room.

However, if SCS wants to take a look, here are 3 suggestions.....

Castaic

A small Pilot and a local truck stop, but would require 2 offramps to make properly, located between the southern part of Tejon Pass and the CA-126 Junction
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Tejon Pass

Near the summit of Tejon Pass is a Flying J attached to a Motel 6. Would need to be added in near the top of the pass BEFORE the highways split. There is also a rest stop nearby as well.
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Wheeler Ridge

Located at the start of Tejon Pass/The Grapevine and the I-5/CA-99 connector is Wheeler Ridge, home to 2 large truck stops, a Petro, and a TA. Would need the most space of the 3, which would require an entire new rework of the south Central Valley and the I-5/CA-99 connector to be moved.
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[TitleMax]

Seeing the implementation of Hotel Depots in Greece, I think it would be a great idea to implement that same industry into ATS with Las Vegas.

I think a good candidate would be Caesars Palace, it has easy access from some existing roads already mapped that can be reworked.

This can be where the trigger is to start or finish jobs: https://imgur.com/a/rUjKWTD

And this the delivery area where trailers are picked up and dropped off:
https://imgur.com/a/v6GZVI5
https://imgur.com/a/wqFYfQC