In April 2025, WalkSydney worked with member Jake Coppinger, and Sara Stace of Better Streets to request SCATS Traffic signal phasing data.
This was an action following on ongoing discussions with the community in Sydney on the abysmal scraps of time allocated for people crossing on foot at traffic lights.
Why traffic signal phases (timing) are important
It is clear to us all that
- The traffic management system focuses on optimising traffic flow
- Walkers aren’t prioritised because they’re not counted at intersections
- Signal cycles are just too long for convenient walking and cycling
- Data about signal phasing is not in the public domain
“Pedestrians are fed up with begging” (Bicycle NSW, 8 Aug 2023)
Even Action 7 of the Transport for NSW Active Transport Strategy is explicit: ‘Improve priority for walking trips in centres, towns and villages, such as reallocating road space to widen footpaths and providing more frequent and longer duration pedestrian crossing phases at traffic signals.’
What is SCATS?
SCATS, Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System is an intelligent real time traffic management platform that monitors, controls and optimises the movement of people and goods in cities.
“SCATS is an intelligent real time traffic management platform that monitors, controls and optimises the movement of people and goods in cities.”
Why should SCATS data be available to the public?
Despite its scale and impact, there is limited public visibility into how signal phasing decisions are made, particularly in relation to how these choices affect people walking, riding, and accessing public transport.
In contrast, the Western Australian Government has taken a significant step forward by publishing SCATS signal phasing data online — free and accessible to all. This openness supports evidence-based advocacy, allows communities and researchers to understand trade-offs, and ensures accountability for how public infrastructure serves all users of the street network.
We believe signal timing should be as public as a train or bus timetable.
Our request resulted in a back and forth thread of correspondence, in which 5 months later, we’re still facing the blanket response:
“Transport for NSW does not publish the SCATS Signal Phasing data you requested and currently has no plans to make this information publicly available.”
Correspondence (in chronological order)
16 Apr 2025 – NSW – Jake Coppinger / WalkSydney / Better Streets – Request for Public Access to SCATS Traffic Signal Phasing Data across the network (or a roadmap to proceed)
9 May 2025 – TfNSW response: “Transport for NSW does not publish the SCATS Signal Phasing data you requested and currently has no plans to make this information publicly available.”
14 May 2025 – WalkSydney response: Seek clarification and outline evidence of how it was implemented in WA
3 Jun 2025 – TfNSW response: “While Transport does not publish the specific data requested as a matter of policy, we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to explore your needs further.”
4 Jul 2025 – Meeting between WalkSydney and SCATS team members.
4 Aug 2025 – WalkSydney response: Request data across one weekday for all NSW signals
25 Aug 2025 – TfNSW response: “Transport for NSW does not publish the SCATS Signal Phasing data you requested and currently has no plans to make this information publicly available.”
Next steps
WalkSydney will continue to push for visibilty and improvements into the timing, safety and amenity of people moving around Sydney.
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