Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA)

A Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) is a detailed study that evaluates how a proposed development or land use will affect the surrounding road network, traffic flows, parking demand, and pedestrian safety. It identifies potential impacts and outlines mitigation measures to ensure that projects can proceed safely and in compliance with council and road authority requirements.

TIAs are often mandatory for Development Applications (DA), rezoning proposals, or projects that may generate significant additional traffic or parking demand.

When do you need a Traffic Impact Assessment?

You may require a TIA when:

Submitting a DA for new residential, commercial, or industrial developments
Proposing redevelopment, rezoning, or change of land use
Planning projects expected to increase vehicle trips or alter traffic patterns
Developments affecting major intersections, arterial roads, or local streets
Demonstrating compliance with council planning controls, parking rates, or access standards
Justifying variations to parking requirements under local council DCPs

Without a TIA, council may not be able to assess the traffic implications of your project, which can delay or prevent approvals.

What does a Traffic Impact Assessment include?

A TIA typically examines:

Existing conditions – current traffic volumes, road hierarchy, intersection performance, and public transport access
Development proposal – size, scale, and nature of the development
Trip generation analysis – forecasted number of vehicle trips generated by the development, based on RMS and Austroads guidelines
Traffic distribution & assignment – how additional traffic will disperse across the surrounding network
Intersection capacity analysis – modelling of key intersections using SIDRA or equivalent software
Parking supply & demand – assessment against AS 2890.1 and council requirements
Pedestrian and cyclist impacts – accessibility, safety, and active transport provisions
Public transport integration – impact on bus stops, train stations, and routes nearby
Mitigation measures – recommendations such as intersection upgrades, access improvements, parking adjustments, or staging strategies

How is a Traffic Impact Assessment prepared?

We manage the full process from data collection to reporting. The steps include:

Project briefing – You provide details of the proposed development, DA conditions, and site plans.
Data collection – We gather traffic volume counts, turning movement surveys, crash history, and public transport data.
Baseline assessment – Existing network conditions are analysed, including intersection performance and road capacity.
Trip generation modelling – Forecast traffic volumes are developed based on land use type and industry-standard trip rates.
Impact analysis – Additional traffic is assigned to the road network and tested for impacts on intersections and road sections.
Parking and access review – Car parking layouts, access points, and loading/service arrangements are assessed.
Mitigation strategy – Practical recommendations are made to reduce or offset traffic impacts.
Reporting – A professional, council-ready TIA report is prepared, complete with diagrams, modelling outputs, and recommendations.

The outcome is a clear, evidence-based Traffic Impact Assessment that supports your development application, addresses council concerns, and demonstrates that your project is safe, sustainable, and compliant.