Austin Region Traffic Impact Study and Analysis Requirements
What Is a Traffic Impact Study and Why Is It Important in Austin?
A Traffic Impact Study (TIS), also commonly referred to as a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA), is a technical evaluation of how a proposed development will affect the surrounding roadway network. In the Austin area, a TIA evaluates the number of trips generated by a project, how those trips distribute across nearby streets and intersections, and whether existing or planned transportation infrastructure can safely and efficiently accommodate the additional traffic.
In the Austin metropolitan region, Traffic Impact Studies are commonly required by reviewing agencies such as the City of Austin, surrounding municipalities in Central Texas, applicable county agencies, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). TIAs are typically triggered when a development exceeds defined trip generation thresholds, impacts roadway access, or meets specific size or land-use criteria established by local or regional agencies. These requirements help ensure that new development in and around Austin supports safe traffic operations and long-term mobility goals.
The purpose of a Traffic Impact Analysis in the Austin area is not only to quantify traffic impacts, but also to identify appropriate mitigation measures, such as intersection improvements, signal timing adjustments, access management modifications, or additional turn lane additions, to maintain acceptable traffic operations and safety. A well-prepared Traffic Impact Study supports informed permitting and access decisions by reviewing agencies and helps development projects move forward without creating congestion, safety concerns, or operational deficiencies. For developers in Austin and nearby communities such as Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, and Georgetown, completing a Traffic Impact Study early in the project lifecycle reduces the risk of review delays, redesigns, or unexpected infrastructure costs during agency coordination.
Which Agency Reviews Your Development in Austin?
The agency responsible for reviewing a Traffic Impact Study (TIS) in the Austin area depends on the project location, roadway ownership, and site access conditions. In Austin, Texas, this determination is typically made by confirming municipal boundaries, county jurisdiction, and whether the proposed development connects to a TxDOT-maintained roadway. Identifying the correct reviewing agency early is an important step in the Austin Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) process and helps reduce delays during permitting and project review.
The appropriate reviewing agency for a Traffic Impact Analysis in Austin can usually be identified using the following steps:
- Confirm whether the site is within the City of Austin or another incorporated city: If the project is located within the corporate limits of the City of Austin or nearby municipalities such as Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, or Georgetown, that city is typically the primary reviewing agency for the Traffic Impact Analysis.
- Check if the site is outside city limits but within county jurisdiction: Developments located outside incorporated city boundaries in the Austin metropolitan area are generally reviewed by the applicable county, such as Travis County or Williamson County, depending on project location and roadway ownership.
- Determine whether the development impacts a TxDOT roadway: If site access is provided from a state highway, frontage road, interchange ramp, or other facility maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), TxDOT review is typically required, either as the primary reviewing agency or in coordination with the City of Austin or the applicable county.
- Identify overlapping or joint jurisdiction cases in the Austin area: Some developments in and around Austin require coordination between multiple agencies, such as a city and TxDOT or a county and TxDOT, depending on roadway jurisdiction, access location, and the extent of projected traffic impacts.
- Confirm Traffic Impact Analysis requirements through agency coordination when needed: For projects near city limits, within extraterritorial jurisdictions (ETJs), or involving complex access conditions, direct coordination with the reviewing agency is commonly used to confirm Austin TIA requirements, study scope, and documentation expectations.
Traffic Impact Analysis Requirement per Agency
| Agency or Jurisdiction | TIA Threshold | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| City of Austin | ≥2,000 daily trips (TA); ≥5,000 daily trips (Full TIA); ≥300 daily trips on residential street (NTA) | Pre-submittal meeting required. Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plan required for developments generating ≥2,000 daily trips. |
| TxDOT Austin District | Case-specific | TIA scope determined by TxDOT district staff. Turn lanes and traffic signals required per TxDOT warrants. |
| CAMPO, Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization | Case-specific | CAMPO does not require site-specific TIAs. Regional travel demand model used for background traffic. |
| City of Round Rock | Case-specific | Scoping meeting required to define study limits. ITE Trip Generation required. |
| City of Cedar Park | ≥2,000 daily trips; >300 daily trips on residential street | Director may require a TIA below thresholds. Mitigation may include off-site roadway improvements. |
| City of Pflugerville | ≥2,000 daily trips | Traffic checklist required for all plats. City may require TIA below stated threshold. |
| City of Georgetown | >1,000 daily trips (ETJ); ≥5,000 daily trips (City Limits) | TIA scope set with Transportation Department. Proportionality applied per Texas law. |
| City of Leander | 300–699 peak-hour trips (Level 3); ≥700 peak-hour trips (Level 4) | Screening form determines required study level. Large developments may require roadway adequacy analysis. |
| City of San Marcos | >3 daily trips on residential street; >2,000 daily trips on non-residential street | Threshold worksheet used for determination. TIA may be waived with full mitigation. |
| City of Kyle | 1,000–2,000 daily trips (Driveway); >5,000 daily trips (Regional TIA) | City Engineer determines study level. Study extent tied to trip generation. |
| City of Buda | ≥100 peak-hour trips or ≥750 daily trips | City Engineer may require a TIA below thresholds. Pre-submission meeting required. |
| Travis County (Unincorporated) | >1,000 daily trips (non-residential) | Uses City of Austin criteria. Coordination with Travis County TNR required. |
| Williamson County (Unincorporated) | >2,000 daily trips or >100 peak-hour trips | PE-sealed TIA required. County Engineer may waive with mitigation. |
| Hays County (Unincorporated) | ≥100 peak-hour trips | TIA acknowledgement required with plats. Developer-funded mitigation required. |
Questions and Answers About Traffic Impact Analysis in Austin
There is no technical difference. The terms Traffic Impact Study and Traffic Impact Analysis are used interchangeably by reviewing agencies in Austin and throughout Central Texas to describe the same traffic evaluation process.
Traffic Impact Analysis requirements depend on project location, estimated trip generation, and roadway jurisdiction. In the Austin area, an initial screening or technical memorandum is often used to confirm whether a full Traffic Impact Analysis is required by the reviewing agency. Civotec routinely performs these applicability reviews. For screening or technical memorandum preparation, contact info@civotec.com
Reviewing agencies commonly include the City of Austin, surrounding Central Texas municipalities, applicable county agencies, and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Depending on roadway ownership and access conditions, some projects require coordination with more than one agency.
For low impact developments, some agencies in the Austin area may accept a Technical Memorandum or abbreviated traffic analysis instead of a full Traffic Impact Analysis. Acceptance depends on trip generation levels, access conditions, and agency discretion.
TxDOT review is typically required when a project accesses or impacts a state highway, frontage road, interchange ramp, or other TxDOT maintained facility. Even when a city or county is the primary reviewer, TxDOT coordination may still be required.
Timeframes vary based on study complexity and agency review cycles. An initial applicability review or technical memorandum may take only a few days, while a full Traffic Impact Analysis typically takes several weeks, including agency comments and revisions.
Typical inputs include a site plan, proposed land use details, anticipated opening year, and access locations. Civotec can assist early in the Austin development process by preparing trip generation estimates and identifying required data.
In some cases, reviewing agencies may accept a previously approved Traffic Impact Study if site conditions, land use, or traffic volumes have not materially changed. Acceptance is agency specific and usually requires confirmation through coordination with the reviewing agency.
If deficiencies are identified, the Traffic Impact Analysis will recommend mitigation measures such as turn lanes, signal timing adjustments, access modifications, or other improvements needed to obtain agency approval.
Yes. Civotec coordinates directly with cities, counties, and TxDOT throughout the Traffic Impact Analysis process, including scope confirmation, agency submittals, and responses to review comments.
Costs vary depending on project size, study complexity, and agency requirements. A small technical memorandum or applicability review typically costs less than a full Traffic Impact Analysis. For a project specific cost estimate, contact info@civotec.com
When a Traffic Impact Analysis Is NOT Required in Austin
A Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) is not required for every development in Austin, Texas, or throughout the surrounding Central Texas region. Many projects within the City of Austin generate relatively low traffic volumes or qualify for exemptions under city or agency specific criteria. In these cases, the reviewing authority may determine that a full Traffic Impact Study (TIS) is unnecessary.
In the Austin area, common situations where a Traffic Impact Study may not be required include small developments with minimal trip generation, minor tenant finish outs, changes in land use that result in no net increase in traffic, or projects that fall below established City of Austin TIA thresholds. In some cases, the requirement may also be waived when an existing or previously approved traffic study adequately addresses the proposed development and surrounding roadway conditions.
Because Traffic Impact Analysis requirements in Austin vary by jurisdiction, an initial TIA applicability review is often recommended to confirm whether a study is required by the City of Austin, the applicable county, or the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Early confirmation helps developers avoid unnecessary traffic studies, reduce permitting delays, and minimize the risk of unexpected redesigns or infrastructure costs during the Austin development review process.
Technical Memorandum vs. Minor vs. Full Traffic Impact Analysis in Austin
Traffic study requirements in Austin, Texas, and throughout the surrounding Central Texas region vary by jurisdiction, and not all reviewing agencies formally define multiple levels of Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA). In many cases, the appropriate level of analysis is determined by the reviewing authority, such as the City of Austin or the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), based on project specific traffic impacts rather than fixed study categories.
For low impact developments in the Austin area with limited trip generation and localized effects, a Technical Memorandum or other abbreviated traffic analysis is commonly accepted. These submittals are often used for small developments, minor site changes, or projects that do not significantly affect nearby intersections or roadway operations.
Some agencies in Central Texas, particularly when a project accesses or impacts TxDOT maintained roadways, may require a Minor Traffic Study for moderate impact developments. Minor traffic studies typically focus on peak hour operations, access conditions, and safety considerations, but are narrower in scope than a full Traffic Impact Analysis.
A Full Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) is generally required in Austin when a development exceeds established agency thresholds or results in broader operational or safety impacts. Full TIAs evaluate existing and future traffic conditions, trip distribution and assignment, intersection and roadway capacity, and identify necessary mitigation measures such as turn lanes, signal improvements, or access modifications.
The required traffic study level for an Austin Traffic Impact Analysis is determined by agency policies, roadway jurisdiction, and specific project characteristics. Early coordination with the City of Austin, applicable counties, or TxDOT, and when relevant the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), is strongly recommended to confirm study scope and documentation requirements and to avoid delays during the Austin development permitting and review process.
Steps of a Traffic Impact Analysis in the Austin Area
A Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) in Austin, Texas is typically completed in two main steps. The first step determines whether a full or minor Traffic Impact Analysis is required based on City of Austin, county, or TxDOT criteria and the specific characteristics of the proposed development. If a study is required, the second step involves completing a Traffic Impact Analysis in accordance with applicable agency standards and review procedures used throughout the Central Texas region.
Step 1: Initial Traffic Impact Review (TIA Applicability in Austin)
The initial step of an Austin Traffic Impact Analysis focuses on confirming whether a development triggers a formal traffic study requirement.
- Preliminary assessment of Austin TIA requirements: Applicable Traffic Impact Analysis requirements are reviewed based on project location to identify the governing agency, such as the City of Austin, the applicable county, or the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and to identify any relevant thresholds.
- Initial trip generation calculations: Site generated traffic is estimated using accepted methodologies, including the ITE Trip Generation Manual, to evaluate the potential traffic impacts of the proposed development on the Austin area roadway network.
- Determination of required study level: Based on trip generation results and agency criteria, it is determined whether a limited analysis is sufficient or if a minor or full Traffic Impact Analysis or Traffic Impact Study is required for the Austin project.
- Coordination with the reviewing agency as needed: When clarification is required, coordination with the reviewing agency is performed to confirm study scope, documentation requirements, and expectations early in the Austin development review process.
Step 2: Full Traffic Impact Analysis (If Required in Austin)
If a full Traffic Impact Analysis is required in the Austin area, the following steps are typically completed.
- TIA scoping and contracting: The Traffic Impact Analysis scope, study limits, and analysis requirements are defined based on agency standards and project characteristics applicable in Austin and nearby Central Texas jurisdictions.
- Traffic data collection: Traffic volume counts and operational data are collected at study intersections and roadways to support the Austin Traffic Impact Analysis.
- Traffic analysis and TIA report preparation: Existing and future traffic conditions are analyzed, and a Traffic Impact Analysis report is prepared in accordance with City of Austin, county, or TxDOT guidelines, and when applicable coordinated with the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO).
- Agency submittals and review: The completed Traffic Impact Analysis is submitted to the reviewing agency, and the formal Austin traffic review process is initiated.
- Agency comments and responses: Agency review comments are addressed, and the Traffic Impact Analysis is revised as required to obtain approval and support project permitting in Austin.
Disclaimer
The information provided on this page is intended as a general overview of Traffic Impact Analysis requirements. Requirements, thresholds, and procedures may vary by jurisdiction, project characteristics, and over time. This content should not be relied upon as a substitute for official agency guidelines or direct coordination with the reviewing authority. Final study requirements are determined by the applicable reviewing agency.
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