Seeking Input on your New Chip Seal Lane

The City of Calgary is conducting pilot projects for alternatives to traditional gravel surfaces on lanes and your back lane was selected to be resurfaced as a chip seal surface, which is similar to asphalt. We are undertaking citizen research to better understand how back lane surface materials impact residents’ quality of use. Your feedback will assist in better understanding how this often-overlooked piece of infrastructure is currently being used and help shape the future of Calgary’s communities.

The City of Calgary is conducting research to better understand how Calgarians use their back lane and how the surface type makes a difference to how the lane is used.

Most of Calgary’s back lanes (72%) are gravel with more being added each year in new communities. However, gravel lanes can have significant economic, environmental, social and safety disadvantages.

	While the cost to construct gravel lanes is low, gravel surfaces are prone to potholes, rutting and erosion during storms and snowmelt. This can result in higher operating costs to maintain these surfaces over time.
	Gravel surfaced laneways are a major source of sediment in Calgary’s waterways. This has the potential to reduce water quality and affect fish and wildlife habitats.
	Gravel surfaces can add to vehicle maintenance costs and reduce air quality caused by regular disruption of surface materials.
	Gravel surfaces can also create safety concerns for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists when gravel is tracked or carried by rain onto sidewalks and roadways.

The City has completed an analysis on alternatives to gravel lanes to reduce these disadvantages associated with gravel lanes and installing pilot projects for the top-rated alternatives to confirm the assumptions from the analysis.

We are asking for your feedback on your new chip seal back lane surface. Your answers will help us determine if the lane surface impacts your satisfaction with your back lane.

We will be utilizing the information gathered to adjust assumptions on lane surfacing performance and satisfaction. This information will help us impact the recommendations on how back lanes will be surfaced in the future.