Traffic Impact Studies in Barrie

Understanding the Transportation Requirements for Your Development

A Transportation Impact Study (TIS) evaluates how a proposed development will affect the surrounding transportation network and identifies improvements needed to accommodate future travel demand. In Barrie, the assessment extends beyond vehicle traffic to include public transit, pedestrians, cyclists, site access and circulation, parking and road safety.

A TIS may be required to support Official Plan Amendments, Zoning By-law Amendments, Draft Plans of Subdivision or Condominium, Site Plan Control, Community Planning Permit System applications and Minor Variances. The required scope depends on the development’s size, location, anticipated traffic generation and potential effects on the surrounding transportation network.

What Does the TIS Process Involve?

1. Establishing the Study Scope

The process begins with pre-consultation with the City’s Transportation Planning staff. Applicants and their consultants must submit a proposed scope of work for review and approval before commencing the study. This establishes the study area, analysis periods, forecast years, modelling methods and applicable supporting assessments. Consultation with Barrie Transit, GO Transit/Metrolinx or the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) may also be necessary.

2. Reviewing Existing Conditions

The consultant documents surrounding roads, intersections, traffic controls, transit services, cycling facilities, sidewalks and pedestrian crossings. Traffic counts, turning movements, vehicle queues, signal timing and collision records are reviewed as appropriate. Existing constraints, nearby developments and planned transportation improvements are incorporated into the assessment.

3. Forecasting Future Travel Demand

The study estimates the trips generated by the proposed development and their distribution across the transportation network. Future background traffic accounts for growth and surrounding development, while separate scenarios assess the additional impact of the proposed project. Barrie’s guidelines require consideration of travel by different modes, including adjustments associated with proposed TDM measures.

4. Evaluating Operational and Multimodal Impacts

The assessment examines intersection capacity, delays, volume-to-capacity ratios, vehicle queues, site access and turning movements. It also evaluates transit operations, pedestrian circulation, cycling infrastructure, sight distances and potential conflicts between road users. Drive-through facilities and other uses with significant on-site queuing may require specialized circulation and queue-storage analysis.

5. Recommending Improvements and Preparing the Report

Where deficiencies are identified, the consultant recommends measures such as intersection improvements, turning lanes, revised access arrangements, traffic-control changes and pedestrian, cycling or transit infrastructure. Recommendations should identify feasible improvements and implementation requirements. Reports and drawings must be signed, dated and stamped by a qualified professional engineer licensed in Ontario.

What Makes Barrie’s TIS Requirements Distinctive?

A tiered study process: Barrie’s detailed guidelines generally call for a full TIS when a development adds 50 or more peak-hour trips, could increase motor vehicle volumes on the road network or critical intersection movements by 5% with adverse operational or safety effects, is near a congested or problem intersection, or conflicts with the City’s planning policies. Developments below the full-study thresholds require a reduced-scope Traffic Brief, with the scope confirmed by the City.

Mandatory TDM assessments for qualifying developments: A TDM Plan is required under the detailed guidelines where any specified threshold is met: 75 or more employees, 50 or more residential units, 2,000 m² of floor area, proposed parking below the Zoning By-law requirements, or assumptions that vehicle trips will be reduced by shifting travel to transit and active transportation. The plan identifies measures, expected travel-mode targets, implementation responsibilities and ongoing management arrangements.

A multimodal approach: Barrie’s guidelines assess more than vehicle capacity. They require consideration of transit, walking and cycling infrastructure, pedestrian circulation, accessibility and the connections between the proposed development and the surrounding transportation network. The study must demonstrate consistency with the City’s Multi-Modal Active Transportation Master Plan.

Highway 400 corridor requirements: Development within 300 metres of the Highway 400 corridor or 395 metres of a Highway 400 ramp terminal falls within the MTO permit control area identified in the City’s guidelines. Additional provincial requirements may apply, making early consultation essential.

Explicit infrastructure funding considerations: Localized improvements needed to provide access to the City’s road network or mitigate development impacts are generally the proponent’s responsibility. For major infrastructure, such as corridor widenings, funding depends on whether the work is identified in the development charge background study and whether its scheduled construction aligns with the proposed development. Where specified major works are not identified in that study, the guidelines indicate that the proponent may be expected to fund and construct the improvements.

Additional parking and construction assessments: A separate Parking Study may be required where an application seeks to amend parking standards, including through a Zoning By-law Amendment, Minor Variance or Community Planning Permit System. Larger developments may also require a Construction Staging Plan, determined through consultation with City staff.

Plan Ahead for Development Approval

Early consultation with Barrie Transportation Planning staff helps confirm the required study scope, identify potential access and infrastructure constraints, and determine whether a Parking Study, TDM Plan or Construction Staging Plan is needed. Addressing traffic operations, multimodal connections and infrastructure responsibilities during initial site design can reduce redesign risks and help support a more efficient application review.

References: City of Barrie — Traffic Impact Study Terms of Reference (2026) and Transportation Impact Study Guidelines, Version 1.0 (January 12, 2021). Requirements should be confirmed with City staff for the specific development proposal.

Our team has in-depth expertise at conducting these assessments. Contact us today to find out how we can help with your project.