Travel planning guidelines: Preparing and implementing site-specific development measures

Also referred to as a green 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 through a range of actions, promotional campaigns and incentives.

Our vision is to create a city that is green, global and connected. Supporting and implementing a sustainable transport network is a key component of achieving this vision.

Under the Sydney Development Control Plan 2012, any new development that is expected to generate more than a certain number of trips in the peak hour is required to develop a travel plan, which is enforced through a condition of consent.

Note, updates to the plan which are expected to come into effect in 2025 will remove these thresholds. After this, we may still require that a new development prepare a travel plan at our discretion. This is most likely to be where the travel task associated with the development is large and complex – for example, schools or hospitals.

While travel plans provide city-wide benefits, such as reducing congestion and pollution, they can also provide a range of benefits to employers, employees, visitors or residents of a development. Travel plans can:

• Reduce the need to provide parking by reducing costs associated with providing parking and helping to create more affordable housing outcomes.
• Contribute to corporate social responsibility relating to the ‘triple bottom line’ and improve the corporate image as an innovative and environmentally-aware organisation.
• Help to attract and retain staff by reducing costs associated with staff turnover.
• Contribute to a healthier, happier and more active workplace by reducing costs associated with sick days and an unhealthy, unproductive workforce.
• Create opportunities for healthier lifestyles and more vibrant, cohesive and accessible communities.
• Provide staff and residents with potential travel cost savings.
• Help to appeal to a new generation of professionals who prioritise location and lifestyle over car ownership.
• Increase the potential market for your development by improving accessibility.

Several key steps are required to develop and implement an effective travel plan. These steps ensure that a travel plan is robust, realistic and achievable.

The essential elements of a travel plan include:

• Site audit and data collection, which is crucial for understanding the starting point.
• Objectives and targets that define the direction and purpose of the travel plan. Targets should be specific, measurable, achievable and time bound.
• Actions that will help achieve the objectives. Actions should provide incentives for using sustainable transport modes.
• A strategy for promoting and marketing the actions.
• A commitment of resources, including financial support and human resources to allow for implementation, monitoring, review and continual improvement of the travel plan.
• A monitoring and review process that sets out a systematic approach to measuring the impact of the travel plan.
• Governance support, including the appointment of a travel plan coordinator or committee.

1. Determine who will develop the travel plan
2. Conduct a site audit and gather data
3. Develop objectives and targets
4. Outline actions and a promotion and marketing strategy
5. Identify resources and governance
6. Submit the travel plan to the City of Sydney for comment and approval
7. Implement the travel plan
8. Monitor and review the travel plan
9. Submit the outcomes of any reviews to the City of Sydney as required by the consent condition

Transport for NSW has developed a Travel Plan Toolkit designed for people or groups responsible for developing and implementing a travel plan. This toolkit provides the steps, template and resources to develop a comprehensive travel plan.