By Doug Mack
Doug Carter |
If you’ve ever driven on a Minnesota highway, Doug Carter has guided you along the way at some point. As the State Geometrics Engineer, he has a key role in the design of all MnDOT projects, whether it be a major interchange, a roundabout, a J-Turn, or a simple turn lane. Doug is also active in providing guidance and education to designers. He is the head of the expert office for a wide variety of design topics, and he hosts and creates training relevant to internal and external designers. Doug’s group recently created and delivered a roundabout design class, focused on the way roundabouts are designed here in Minnesota.
How long have you been at MnDOT and in what positions?
In 2016, I was hired as the State Geometrics Engineer and I’m currently in that role. Prior to that, I spent 5 years working for the DNR and 10 years at national consulting firms in various design engineer roles.
What are your day-to-day tasks?
My primary role is managing the Geometric Design Support Unit, which consists of six staff members that serve as the internal geometric consultants for MnDOT. All day, every day, we focus on roadway geometry in all the details that go with that. My group interacts directly with internal and consultant project managers and designers, aiding with concept development, and understanding and application of design guidance. We then provide formal layout review prior to recommending projects for approval by the State Design Engineer.
When you travel around Minnesota you are presented with roadway features that intuitively guide you in your travel. Part of my role is applying consistent design practices that result in a predictable and seamless experience for users.
How does your job fit into the broader work of MnDOT?
We work with all the districts on designs. Someone will come and say, for example, “I’ve got this unique/constrained situation. What options do I have to make this work?” Or, “How can I adjust my design to best fit this context, while providing a safe and functional road?”
We review designs and have discussions with the district staff. We’ll give them our observations—like, “We think that vertical curve in that profile may be too short, so it'll drive poorly and it may shield a hazard on the other side of it from drivers.” We make recommendations to optimize different aspects of highway design.
How many how many different projects are you working on at a given time?
In a typical year, we see about 150 layouts. We see three layouts a week, roughly, all year long.
Beyond specific designs, you also work on creating guidelines and education. Tell us about that.
We wrote the new roundabout guidance, which we rolled out in 2020. Word got out nationally that we had new design guidance and people were interested in learning about it. This was part of the reason we developed our own training curriculum. In fact, we just two weeks ago, we delivered the first roundabout workshop, based off the 2020 guidance. I think it was a success. It was sold out pretty fast and included attendees from MnDOT, consulting firms, and some of our partner counties. We'll probably be offering it on an annual basis now.
I also serve on two Transportation Research Board committees: the Standing Committee on Roundabouts and other Intersection Design and Control Strategies and the Standing Committee on Performance Effects Geometric Design. I am also the chair of the MnDOT Roundabout Review Team and the MnDOT Roundabout Steering Committee. I’m a member of the FDG Advisory Council and Performance-Based Practical Design Executive Committee and the MnDOT Design Advisory Committee, and the current chair of the Design Engineers group.
Do you have a favorite roundabout?
I don’t! But I will say that I’m about to leave for a trip to Europe to look at a new roundabout design with as part of a National Academy of Sciences/Federal Highway Administration scan tour. Minnesota is one of two state DOTs who were selected nationwide. The purpose of the tour is to study a roundabout design not commonly used in the United States, called a turbo roundabout. We’re going to look at whether it has applicability for the national highway system or for Minnesota.
What are your interests or hobbies outside your work with MnDOT?
Before my wife and I had kids, I was a mixed alpine climber—you know, big mountains (Denali, Mr. Rainier, Cotopaxi), glaciers, and mixed routes with rock and ice and anything else that came at me. When our boys were born the constant risk taking was hard to square with a family. I got back into bike racing although that’s stopped since the pandemic because I retired. I have been crashing my bike for most of my life and it seemed like a good time to stop. These days, my wife and I hike and go to the mountains when we can and ride our bikes around.
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