A multi-city wavelength link architecture is used to distribute spectral bands received on input optical signals among output optical signals. Such an architecture may include an optical wavelength cross connect having multiple input ports, multiple output ports, and a wavelength routing element that selectively routes wavelength components between one optical signal and multiple optical signal. Such an optical wavelength cross connect will generally receive cross-connect-input optical signals at the input ports and transmit cross-connect-output optical signals from the output ports. Methods are used to increase the number of cities that may be accommodated by the architecture without disrupting through traffic between the existing cities.