The RTA’s interests in statutory planning include:

• Providing input to proposed or draft environmental planning instruments.
• Requesting the preparation of environmental planning instruments for classified roads, for the RTA’s land or to control the development of land that affects RTA interests.
• Commenting on development applications for private development that may affect the classified road system.
• Submitting development applications for RTA buildings.

Statutory planning issues also influence the RTA’s network planning and environmental impact assessment processes. For example, they can influence where roads are located, the type of environmental impact assessment required or funding arrangements for the provision of road infrastructure.

The RTA is a governing board member of the University of Sydney's Planning Research Centre.