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Right-sizing the scope – proportionate, cost-effective and aligned with expectations.
Practical, evidence-based transport assessments for developments, plan changes and infrastructure projects — right-sized to what your site and consent authority actually need.
Urban Connection prepares Traffic Impact Assessments (TIA), Integrated Transport Assessments (ITA), Transport Impact Assessments and Transportation Impact Assessments for developments, plan changes and infrastructure projects right across New Zealand — not just where we happen to have an office. Whatever your council calls it, our advice is practical, evidence-based and tailored to the site, network and planning context.
MOST COMMON NATIONALLY
Assesses how a development’s vehicle traffic will affect the road network – trip generation, distribution, intersection performance, safety, parking and access. The right-sized assessment for most standalone developments where vehicle effects are the primary concern.
USED INTERCHANGEABLY WITH TIA
The same underlying discipline as a TIA — assessing a development’s effect on the transport network — but the term some councils and practitioners prefer, particularly for larger projects. Some authorities use “transport” to signal a broader, more multi-modal read than a narrowly vehicle-focused TIA.
Auckland & Several Other Councils
A defined term in Auckland Transport’s and several other territorial authorities’ planning guidelines. Broader in scope than a TIA — it assesses accessibility by walking, cycling, public transport and private vehicles, and integrates transport and land-use outcomes rather than traffic effects alone.
That depends on which council you’re consenting through and the scale of your development — not on a fixed national standard. District Plan thresholds, plan-change requirements and the Fast-track Approvals Act 2025 all trigger different assessment types. We confirm the right assessment — and its scope — as part of our early advice, so you’re not paying for more than the consent process requires.
Feature | Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) | Integrated Transport Assessment (ITA) |
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Scope | Focuses on traffic and vehicle impacts | Broader assessment including multi-modal and land-use integration |
Modes Considered | Primarily vehicles | Vehicles, public transport, walking and cycling |
Purpose | Assess effects on the road network and intersections | Ensure integrated, efficient and sustainable transport outcomes |
Typical application | Specific development with traffic effects | Larger or more complex developments, policy and urban planning contexts |
Output | Recommendations for road improvements & mitigations | Strategies for sustainable transport integration |
Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA)
Traffic generation, distribution, network effects, intersection performance, safety, parking and access.
Integrated Transport Assessment (ITA)
Broader assessment of all transport modes — public transport, walking, cycling — land-use integration and outcomes.
Transport / Transportation Impact Assessments
Detailed analysis for complex or large-scale projects, infrastructure works and plan changes.
Access & Parking Assessments
Vehicle access design, parking demand, internal layouts and compliance with council guidelines.
Intersections & Network Analysis
SIDRA / modelling, capacity testing, level of service and network performance evaluation.
Peer Reviews & Expert Evidence
Independent review of transport proposals and expert evidence for hearings and mediation.
Practical & proportionate
Right-sized assessments focused on material impacts and outcomes.
Evidence-based
Robust data and analysis that stand up to scrutiny.
Collaborative
Work closely with clients, planners, councils and technical specialists.
Regulatory exepertise
Deep understanding of planning frameworks and consent processes.
End-to-end support
From early advice through to consent and implementation.
A core part of our TIA and ITA work is determining not just what mitigation is required, but when. By accurately modelling how effects build over time against actual development staging, we identify the trigger points at which infrastructure genuinely becomes necessary — rather than defaulting to worst-case, all-at-once provision. This lets developers stage capital works to match cashflow rather than front-loading it, and gives councils confidence they’re not left maintaining infrastructure ahead of the demand that justifies it. It’s a more disciplined way of scoping mitigation — one that holds up under scrutiny because it’s grounded in evidence of actual need, not just conservative assumption.
We integrate UAV/drone surveys, AI-assisted video analytics and evidence-based data collection to deliver accurate, data-driven insights that improve accuracy, strengthen assessments, support hearings and reduce unnecessary mitigation costs.
We integrate UAV/drone surveys, AI-assisted video analytics and evidence-based data collection to deliver accurate, data-driven insights that improve accuracy, strengthen assessments, support hearings and reduce unnecessary mitigation costs.
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Early due diligence – identifying risks, opportunities and costs before you commit.
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Regulatory expertise — across District Plans, codes and consent processes.
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Proactive risk reduction — in resource consents, to smooth approvals and reduce delays.
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Independent peer review — to strengthen proposals and outcomes.
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Post-consent compliance support — to keep projects moving through implementation.
Is a Traffic Impact Assessment the same as a Transport Impact Assessment?
In practice, yes — most councils and practitioners use the two terms interchangeably for the same underlying assessment. What matters is the scope required for your project and consent authority, not which label appears on the report cover.
When do I need an Integrated Transport Assessment instead of a TIA?
Typically for larger or more complex developments, plan changes and notices of requirement, or where your council’s planning framework (such as Auckland’s) specifically requires an ITA above a defined threshold. Smaller, vehicle-focused developments usually only need a TIA.
How long does a Traffic Impact Assessment take?
It depends on the scale of the assessment and the data collection required — for example, peak-period traffic counts or traffic modelling of multiple intersections. We’ll confirm a project-specific programme as part of our early advice.
What do you need from me to get started?
A concept plan or site layout, the proposed land use and scale, the site location, and any known access points. From there we can confirm the right assessment type and scope.
Do you provide expert evidence for hearings?
Yes — our team provides independent peer review and expert evidence for hearings and mediation, in addition to preparing assessments in support of new applications.