Resources – Transportation/Utility Corridors

Further information, terms and resources for understanding the Transportation/Utility Corridors (TUC) program.

Typical TUC cross section

There are 4 major types of utility components within the transportation utility corridors (TUCs):

  • Ring Road (freeway) and buffer to allow for future widening and/or realignment
  • pipelines
  • power lines - 69kV and above
  • Municipal services (power lines less than 69kV, storm water management facilities associated with the Ring Road and regional water, sanitary or storm trunk sewers)

In addition, an access component is designed to maintain access for compatible secondary uses, for maintenance of the existing utilities, and for the installation of primary use facilities.

Download: image of TUC cross section

For more information please refer to primary and secondary uses.

Resources

TUC glossary of terms

  • Berm

    Earthwork consisting of a linear mound.

  • Buffer Component

    Lands designated as a contingency in areas where additional Ring Road right-of-way may be required. They will generally not be used for visual or noise attenuation purposes.

  • Contouring

    Altering the surface elevation of a land area by cutting and/or filling. also referred to as backsloping, recontouring, grading or regrading. Contouring produces an earthwork.

  • Earthwork

    Constructed by excavating into or placing earth onto the surface of the land. Construction of an earthwork causes a surface disturbance. Typical examples of earthworks within the TUCs are:

    • roadway and interchange embankments and excavations
    • Storm water Management Facility excavations needed for ponds, sediment traps, treatment wetlands, storm sewer trenches and drainage ditches
    • trench excavations for pipelines
    • excavations required for the construction of power transmission lines and telecommunications towers
    • sand and gravel quarry excavations
    • landscaping including subdivision-related contouring (cutting and/or filling) that overlaps onto a TUC, berms that function as noise attenuation and/or visual screening barriers, and pathways.
  • Easement

    Right of use acquired by a landowner (A) for the benefit of his land over the land of landowner (B). The easement provides A with a limited right to use B's land, for example the right to cross B's land.

  • Fill

    Earthwork consisting of a non-linear mound.

  • Landscaping

    Subdivision-related contouring (cutting and/or filling) that overlaps onto a TUC, such as:

    • berms that function as noise reduction
    • pathways
    • any other earthwork that does not fall under the definition of Specified Land in the Conservation and Reclamation Regulation
  • Municipal Services Component

    Part of the Utilities Component and contains utilities such as low-voltage power lines, telecommunications lines, and municipal water, sanitary and storm sewer lines.

  • Noise attenuation barrier

    Constructed to reduce noise impacts on nearby residents. This structure may be built using either a berm or a major vertical barrier (wall), or a combination of both.

  • Pathway

    Defined as a corridor for pedestrians and/or cyclists. Within TUC lands a pathway is also a landscape earthwork.

  • Regional water, sanitary or storm trunk sewers

    Major underground utilities may either cross the TUC or parallel the TUC within rights-of-way specifically designated for their use. These utilities are intended to service multiple developments and not individual subdivisions.

  • Ring Road Component

    Contains a high-speed freeway and related interchanges, and their associated rights-of-way. The Buffer Component allows for future widening or Ring Road realignment.

  • Stormwater Management Facilities

    Required to accommodate the storage and discharge of storm water runoff from the TUC at specified rates. These facilities are a type of Municipal Service that is part of the Utility Component.

  • Subdivision boundary fence

    Situated on non-TUC land adjacent to the surveyed TUC/subdivision property line.

  • Surface disturbance

    According to definition (d) of the RDA Regulations, Surface Disturbance means:

    1. the disturbance, exposure, covering or erosion of the surface of land in any manner
    2. the degradation or deterioration in any manner of the physical surface of land.
  • Utility Component

    Includes power transmission lines, pipelines (any type), telecommunications lines and associated right-of-ways, among others. These are primary uses within the TUC. This component also comprises Municipal Services.

  • Utility right-of-way

    See Section 69 of the Alberta Land Titles Act

Contact

General TUC inquiries:

Properties Divison
Please specify if you are inquiring about Calgary or Edmonton areas in your message.
Email: [email protected]

Address:
Attn: TUC Information
3rd floor, 6950 113 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T6H 5V7

Uses within a TUC

Calgary region

Jason Ness
Manager, Land Planning, Southern Region
Phone: 780-914-7274
Email: [email protected]

Address:
Alberta Infrastructure
3rd Floor, 6950 113 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T6H 5V7

Edmonton region

Brian DeJong
Manager, Land Planning, Northern Region
Phone: 780-427-8473
Email: [email protected]

Address:
Alberta Infrastructure
3rd Floor, 6950 113 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T6H 5V7

Construction proposals

Forward an email with dimensional drawings to scale to:

Calgary region

Jason Ness
Email: [email protected]

Edmonton region

Brian DeJong
Email: [email protected]

Lease TUC land

For individuals applying for private leases in the City of Calgary TUC, refer to the City of Calgary’s Land Use Bylaw for zoning.

Calgary region

Leszek Boczek
Facilities Manager
Phone: 403-355-4097
Email: [email protected]

Address:
Alberta Infrastructure
Room 802, John J. Bowlen Building
620 7 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta  T2P 0Y8

Edmonton region

Art Becker
Facilities Manager
Email: [email protected]

Address:
Alberta Infrastructure
Main Floor, Queen Elizabeth II Building
9820 107 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T5K 1E7