Travel plans

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What is a travel plan?

A travel plan is a package of site-specific measures implemented to promote and maximise the use of more sustainable modes of travel. Typically, travel plans support walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing, which are encouraged via a range of actions, promotional campaigns and incentives.

Travel plans are concerned with more than just the installation of facilities such as bike racks and end-of-trip facilities. A travel plan should be considered as a site management tool which incentivises people to make more sustainable transport choices.

Developments can enjoy many benefits as a result of an effective travel plan – parking needs and costs are reduced, staff and residents are healthier and therefore take fewer sick days, and strain on local transport networks is reduced.

Developing a travel plan is not a one-off task. It involves ongoing implementation, monitoring and review – a travel plan should be a ‘living document’. Nominating an individual or a team to oversee the implementation of a travel plan is a crucial component of success, as is gaining support from senior management, strata management or other relevant governing body.

Travel plans can be developed and implemented for a range of development types, including workplaces, residential developments, destinations (such as tourist attractions), schools and educational campuses.

The City of Sydney’s Development Control Plan (DCP) contains guidelines around when applicants are generally required to prepare and submit a travel plan as part of the development application (DA) process. However, conditions of consent can require that a travel plan be provided for any new development that Council believes has the potential to generate significant traffic and transport impacts.

This guide outlines what is required in order to prepare, submit and implement a travel plan. The guide covers:

It is likely that developments required to develop a travel plan as part of the DA process will also need to undertake a Transport Impact Assessment (TIA) and develop a Transport Access Guide (TAG), however these are not addressed in these guidelines.

Council encourages existing developments to prepare and implement travel plans to better manage travel demands. These are not subject to the same approval process as a travel plan required under a development consent condition. Please contact Council’s Transport Planning team if any additional guidance or assistance is required.