Page contents
- What the Transport Studies team does
- Transport planning, modelling and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Transport surveys and monitoring
- View transport survey data
- Surrey Travel Survey
- Noise action plans (Roads) and noise assessments
- Charges for traffic data
- Request data or contact us
What the Transport Studies team does
The Transport Studies team collects, analyses and uses transport data to help Surrey County Council and its partners plan transport improvements, assess development proposals and monitor travel trends.
We focus on two areas:
- Transport planning, modelling and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Transport surveys and monitoring
This page explains the team’s work, how to view available survey data and how to request transport data.
Transport planning, modelling and GIS
The Transport Modelling and GIS team provides evidence to support transport planning, development planning, infrastructure schemes and business cases. This helps Surrey County Council and its partners understand current and future transport issues and test possible solutions.
Our areas of expertise
We work across a wide range of transport planning projects, from local development proposals and town centre initiatives to major infrastructure schemes and long-term transport strategies. Using transport modelling, GIS mapping, spatial analysis, data analytics and policy assessment, we help identify current and future transport challenges and develop practical, evidence-based solutions.
Our work supports the delivery of safer, more efficient and more sustainable travel options, including walking, cycling, public transport and highway improvements. We collaborate closely with partner organisations and local communities to ensure transport considerations are integrated into growth and place-making decisions.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
A key capability within the team is the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyse travel patterns, accessibility, demographic and land-use data, and infrastructure constraints. By combining spatial intelligence with transport planning expertise, we are able to provide clear visual evidence and insights that support decision-making across the county.
Surrey Integrated Transport Model (SINTRAM)
The team also manages and develops Surrey’s strategic countywide transport model, SINTRAM. SINTRAM provides a robust evidence base for assessing the impacts of planned growth, testing future transport scenarios, evaluating infrastructure proposals and supporting business case development. The model is used to inform transport strategies, Local Plans and major investment decisions across Surrey.
Working with us
The Transport Studies team welcomes opportunities to work with local authorities, developers, consultants, transport operators, academic institutions and other partners. If you are interested in learning more about Surrey’s strategic transport evidence base or using SINTRAM or other tools to support your project, research or transport study, please contact the team to discuss your requirements.
Transport surveys and monitoring
Our surveys and monitoring work includes a wide range of automatic and manual transport surveys, including:
- Traffic counts – measuring the number of vehicles on a road.
- Classified counts – breaking traffic down by type, such as cars, goods vehicles, buses, cyclists and pedestrians.
- Speed surveys – measuring vehicle speeds at specific locations.
Surrey County Council uses a range of equipment as part of the automatic and manual surveys programme. Common examples include:
Pneumatic tubes are temporary tubes placed across the road surface, typically for 7-10 days to count vehicles, recording information such as vehicle speed and classification.
Real-time sensors are used to record vehicle counts, speeds and classifications continuously at selected locations.
Cycle sensors are used to count bicycle movements at specific locations across the county.
Radar sensors are used to collect vehicle volume, speed and vehicle length data without the necessity to place tubes across the road.
Not all transport surveys in Surrey are commissioned by Surrey County Council. Some surveys are undertaken by developers, consultants or other organisations as part of planning applications or other projects. Although there is no statutory requirement to notify the Council of survey activity, organisations are requested to provide details of proposed surveys, including their location, timing, and type as a matter of good practice.
Organisations wishing to attach survey equipment to street lighting columns should refer to the Council's guidance on street lighting attachments - Attaching items to street lights. Survey notifications and related enquiries can be sent to trafficsurveys@surreycc.gov.uk.
We publish wider evidence on travel patterns in the annual Transport Trends report which highlights year-on-year trends in traffic and travel. This helps Surrey County Council and its partners, including developers, make decisions based on high-quality, up-to-date information. If you would like to view this report, please contact the team.
This evidence helps inform a range of transport and planning decisions, including:
- Road safety schemes
- Traffic management
- Infrastructure planning
- Policy development
View transport survey data
Use the transport surveys interactive map to check whether survey data is available for a road or area. The information available on the interactive map includes:
- Available survey locations
- Types of data collected
- How to access specific datasets
This is the first place to check if you want to see what information exists for a particular road or area.
Surrey Travel Survey
The Surrey Travel Survey (2024) was undertaken to improve understanding of how people travel across Surrey and within its individual boroughs and districts. Using a methodology comparable to the National Travel Survey (NTS), the study provides a comprehensive picture of travel patterns and behaviour across the county.
The survey was commissioned in response to the significant changes in travel habits observed following the Covid-19 pandemic. It establishes an up-to-date evidence base that will enable Surrey County Council to monitor travel trends over time and evaluate the effectiveness of future transport interventions.
The findings will inform the development and implementation of our Local Transport Plan (LTP) and Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP), which support the Council’s ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. These strategies are underpinned by three key objectives:
- reducing the need to travel and the distance of trips made;
- encouraging a greater proportion of journeys to be made by sustainable modes of transport; and
- improving the efficiency of vehicles and the operation of the transport network through technological advancements.
The survey has been designed to provide a reliable and representative dataset of travel behaviour across Surrey households, based on journeys undertaken during a typical seven-day period.
If you would like to view this report, please contact the team.
Noise Action Plans (Roads) and Noise Assessments
Noise Action Plans are used to manage environmental noise from major roads. The government maps noise from major transport sources, these are published every five years and identifies Noise Important Areas where further review may be needed. The Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 set out the legal requirements for managing environmental noise in England. These requirements remain in force following the UK’s departure from the European Union.
The regulations require the government to:
- undertake strategic noise mapping every five years to determine public exposure to environmental noise from major noise sources
- provide information to the public on environmental noise and its potential effects
- prepare and adopt Noise Action Plans based on the results of the noise mapping to manage environmental noise and reduce its impacts where appropriate
- preserve areas with good acoustic quality, particularly within urban environments
The most recent Noise Action Plan (NAP) for Roads was published in 2019. Under the Action Plan, the relevant highway authority is responsible for reviewing locations identified through the strategic noise mapping process as Noise Important Areas (NIAs) and, where feasible and proportionate, implementing measures to mitigate noise impacts.
This process is undertaken in accordance with the Action Plan methodology as below. This process covers environmental noise from major roads. It does not cover noise from anti-social driving, engine revving, racing or individual incidents.
Action plan methodology
Examine the reasons why each area has been identified.
Identify potential measures to mitigate or minimise the issue, taking into account any proposed or planned schemes.
Consider related benefits and interests.
Record outcome against one of 6 categories.
Consult, implement and review
Charges for traffic data
An administrative charge may be made for the supply of traffic data. The charge will depend on the number of survey sites for which data is required, and the number of reports for each site as follows:
| Traffic survey data set | Current charge (+ VAT) |
|---|---|
| First site | £120 |
| Each additional site | £45 |
| Additional data set (per report) | £5 |
We will confirm any charge before supplying the data.
Request data or contact us
If you would like to request specific transport survey data or contact us about SINTRAM, you can do so by emailing trafficsurveys@surreycc.gov.uk
If you are requesting survey data, please include the road name, location, survey type, date range and format you need, if known.
If you have checked the interactive map, please include the survey location or reference shown on the map.